Chelsea Clinton in her own words:
(CNN) -- I'm proud to be the honorary chair of the National
Day of Service happening this Saturday, inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.'s
life and legacy. It's the perfect way to kick off the inauguration weekend
because anyone can participate, and we know that when we work together, we will
achieve more than one person could on his or her own.
President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, members of
Congress and their families will be rolling up their sleeves at service
projects in our nation's capital. But you don't have to be in Washington to get
involved. From repairing fire-damaged homes in Colorado and cleaning sidewalks
in Detroit to spending time with children with disabilities in New Orleans,
every state will offer opportunities to volunteer.
All these projects have one big thing in common: They're
making a community, our country and our world better. That's part of what makes
service special. Whether it's volunteering time, skills, ideas or resources, we
all can make a difference.
When I was growing up, my parents and grandparents taught me
that engaging in service, helping our neighbors and building strong communities
are all part of being a good citizen and a good person.
My grandmothers, Virginia and Dorothy, embodied that
conviction.
They both had hard lives growing up during the Depression
and World War II, but despite the obstacles they faced, they found time to
volunteer at their churches and community centers and later, their kids'
schools. They created families full of love, support and service.
My parents instilled their mothers' values in me from early
on. In Little Rock, Arkansas, we went to church on Sundays, and afterward,
conversation often turned to what volunteer project we could do together.
Favorites were deciding which books to donate to the church or library and
cleaning up parks together, something my father always managed to turn into a
game.
When we moved to Washington, service remained an important
part of my life. In high school, I helped head the service club, and in
college, I volunteered as an America Reads tutor and in the art therapy room at
the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital in California. I loved talking to my
grandmothers about my volunteer work, and I agreed with them: I received more
than I could ever possibly give.
Some volunteer work, such as removing debris after
hurricanes, is undeniably hard, physically and emotionally. But a lot of
activities, such as chaperoning school field trips, helping a sick child make a
collage, reading to older people who have lost their eyesight or participating
in an AIDS walk with friends, can be lots of fun. The work is also elevating
and powerful.
This Saturday, as I join thousands of Americans coming
together to do their part, I'll be thinking about my grandmothers, just like I
do every day. I know they'd be proud of our country, that in cities and towns
across America, people are lending their neighbors a hand, just as they taught
their children and grandchildren to do.
But as exciting as the National Day of Service will be, it
will be even more powerful if it is just the beginning. Already, people are
going online to pledge to make giving back a part of their lives, not just for
a day or for a week, but all year round. If everyone who pitches in this
weekend keeps up that commitment throughout the year, think about how much good
we can all do. Lots of small acts add up to big change.
Nineteen years ago, my father proudly signed the bill making
Martin Luther King Day a time dedicated to serving others. At the speech he
gave to mark the event, he reminded us of what King once called, "Life's
most persistent and urgent question: What are you doing for others?"
There are countless right answers to that question -- the
only wrong one is to do nothing. As we think about the future of our
communities and our country, we each have the ability and the responsibility to
participate.
I hope you can join me, the first family and our entire
American family this Saturday as we make this country that we love even better.
You can learn more, find an event near you, and pledge to serve here, at the
National Day of Service site.
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