New National Campaign Urges America’s 77 Million Baby Boomers To Volunteer
Recognizing the extraordinary potential for social good among Americas 77 million baby boomers, the Corporation for National and Community Service today unveiled a multi-year public service ad campaign that asks baby boomers to get involved in their communities.
The “Get Involved” campaign was launched at the White House Conference on Aging, a once-a-decade gathering that makes policy recommendations to the President and Congress about aging issues. The PSA campaign is part of a larger effort by volunteer and nonprofit leaders at the conference to develop a national strategy to engage more baby boomers in service.
Born between 1946 and 1964, baby boomers came of age in a period of great social idealism. Many were inspired to service by President Kennedys famous “Ask not” speech. Data released from the Bureau of Labor Statistics last Friday shows that 33.2% of all boomers– 25.8 million people –volunteered for formal organizations in 2005. This represents the highest rate of volunteering of any age cohort. Campaign organizers want to increase that percentage, especially as boomers begin to retire and have more free time.
“Americas baby boomers are an untapped resource of extraordinary proportions. They are the largest, healthiest, best-educated generation in history and they can leave an incredible legacy through service to others,” said David Eisner, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, who spoke to the 1,200 delegates about the need for change in the business, nonprofit, and government sectors to attract boomer volunteers. “This campaign is a first step in larger strategy that has the potential to transform our society.”
The campaigns goal is to increase the number of boomers engaged in community service. It drives viewers to a new website, www.getinvolved.gov and toll-free hotline, 1-800-424-8867, where they can search by zip code and interest area for local volunteer opportunities that best suit their needs, experience and lifestyle.
The public service announcements began running last month, when the first wave of baby boomers start to turn 60. The ads feature a series of English and Spanish language version television, radio and print ads profiling baby boomers (ages 55-60) of different backgrounds sharing how community service changed their lives and inviting their peers to join them. The ads feature real volunteers from the Corporations RSVP and AmeriCorps VISTA program.
The “Get Involved” campaign is being launched in partnership with Americas nonprofit community. Thirty-four organizations, including AARP, the American Red Cross, Americas Promise, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Habitat for Humanity, Catholic Charities, Communities in Schools, have signed on campaign supporters.
