20th Anniversary of
POINTS of LIGHT AWARD
Oct 16, 2009
Don’t know how many noticed that history was being made last week down in Texas,
In attendance at the ceremony was President Obama and former president George H.W. Bush, who have joined forces for a Presidential Forum on Service, held at Texas A&M in College Station, Texas, October 16. The Forum commemorates the 20th anniversary of the vision of a thousand “Points of Light,” first mentioned in Bush’s 1989 inaugural address and which catalyzed the modern volunteer service movement. The Forum also builds upon Obama’s “United we serve” call to all Americans to help lay a new foundation for growth in this country by engaging in sustained and meaningful community service.
Our own Paint Lick “Point of Light”, Dean Cornett, was daily point of light # 182, presented by President Bush in the White House on June 29, 1990. Next time you’re in the Paint Lick Family Clinic, you can take a look at the award that is proudly displayed there honoring Dean and the Friends of Paint Lick.
But the main point of the story is that the light is still shining at Friends of Paint Lick and thousands of other places across the nation. So the next time your tempted to despair of some of the things going on, be sure to focus on the multitude of folks that are working for the good of their neighbor and nation.
see The Light Still Shines op-ed article.
“The two presidents were in College Station to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Bush’s “1,000 Points of Light” speech, an inaugural challenge that inspired a nonprofit foundation that emphasizes the many twinkles of good work in every community across the country. Our very own Interfaith Ministries Inc. was recognized as a powerful Point of Light, No. 179.
“(Bush) didn’t call for one blinding light shining from Washington. He didn’t just call for a few bright lights from the biggest nonprofits,” President Obama said. “He called for a vast galaxy of people and institutions working together to solve problems in their own backyards. Twenty years later, think for a minute about the impact that he’s had.”
Friends of Paint Lick,Inc. 
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