Obama, Clinton celebrate 20 years of AmeriCorps

President Obama on Friday, joined by former President Bill Clinton and hundreds of AmeriCorps members, celebrated the 20th anniversary of the national service program and announced new commitments to improve the employment opportunities for AmeriCorps alumni.

When Mr. Clinton started AmeriCorps in 1994, he knew it would "give new life to the values that bind us together as Americans," Mr. Obama said from the White House South Lawn. "That was a bold claim but, Bill Clinton's an optimist. He knew from his own life, as I know what mine, what service can do, the sense of purpose it cultivates."

The president promised to keep building up the AmeriCorps program, adding to the foundation laid by his predecessors.

"We're here to rededicate ourselves to the work that lies ahead," Mr. Obama said. "We're here to get things done."

To encourage the recruitment and hiring of AmeriCorps and Peace Corps alumni, Mr. Obama announced the creation of a new Employers of National Service initiative. Employers like Disney, Comcast, the American Red Cross, and United Way Worldwide have joined the initiative, promising to support national service alumni as they join the workforce.

"If you are an employer who wants to hire talented, dedicated, patriotic, skilled, tireless" workers, Mr. Obama said, "look to Americorps, look to the Peace Corps."

The administration also announced new partnerships between the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), other federal agencies and private-sector partnerships to improve opportunities for AmeriCorps volunteers. The White House said that the new partnerships will add $45 million in additional resources to the programs, as well as thousands of new service opportunities.

The White House also announced a new Stars of Service award that will recognize young people for outstanding service and volunteering. The new award will create "a robust pipeline of new young leaders prepared to expand volunteering and strengthen communities across the country," the White House said.

Since AmeriCorps began in 1994, about 900,000 Americans have given more than 1.2 billion hours of service in areas including supporting veterans and military families, helping communities rebuild natural disasters and improving at-risk ecosystems.

Mr. Clinton called the program "one of the most important things I ever had a role in in public service."

AmeriCorps members and officials helped celebrate the 20th anniversary at different events around the country. Former president George H.W. Bush participated in an AmeriCorps pledge ceremony at his home in Kennebunkport, Maine, while former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush produced a video that was shown at pledge ceremonies around the country.