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Social Policy

VOLUNTEERISM: TALKS, BUT NOT MUCH ACTION

Nearly seven months ago, President Clinton kicked off the Summit for America's Future in Philadelphia. The goal was to give two million of the nation's 15 million needy youth the resources to lead healthy, happy and productive lives. Observers say the major product of the meeting has been more meetings. More than 140 local and state mini-summits have been held since April in eight states and 52 cities. But there is no report of how many children have been benefited. The 40-person staff at America's Promise -- the nonprofit group overseeing post-summit activities -- has had three directors since April and reportedly has serious organizational problems. Some activists in the nonprofit world reportedly are becoming impatient and corporations in some cases have had to scale back commitments -- such as allowing employees time off to do volunteer work. Some critics say corporate financial commitments were only extensions or repackaged versions of programs already under way at the time of the national summit. While some communities report a surge in volunteers, other see little new interest. Source: Andrea Stone, "Volunteer Vows Fall Short," USA Today, November 19, 1997.

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