America's Promise - Presidents' Summit For America's Future

Presidents' Summit For America's Future

The idea of a presidential summit to encourage greater volunteerism and community service originated with former Michigan Governor and longtime volunteerism leader George W. Romney, in a proposal he drafted just four days before his death in July 1995.

In late April 1997, Romney's vision was fulfilled, as Presidents Bill Clinton, George H. W. Bush, Jimmy Carter, and Gerald Ford and First Lady Nancy Reagan, representing President Ronald Reagan, met at the Presidents' Summit for America's Future in Philadelphia. An estimated 5,000 volunteers were present in Marcus Foster Stadium. Also present were 30 governors, 100 mayors, 145 community delegations, dozens of prominent business leaders and several thousand citizens. Powell was chairman of the conference. At this conference the Presidents asked the nation to make youth a top priority and to support the "Five Promises".

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