The Center for Nonprofits & Philanthropy at Texas A&M University held its 21st annual Bank of America Program on Volunteerism in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. The event took place in the center of the city at the Bush School DC teaching site, situated two blocks from the White House, BLM Plaza, and Freedom Plaza.
Titled Honoring, Strengthening, and Living the Bush Family Legacy of Selfless Service, the program was made up of leaders from all four of George and Barbara Bush’s legacy organizations. The distinguished panelists included Thomas J. Collamore of the George & Barbara Bush Foundation, Warren Finch, Jr. from the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library & Museum, Diane Quest with Points of Light, and Clare Bonsignore of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.
Dr. Frank B. Ashley III, Executive Associate Dean and Senior Professor at the Bush School of Government & Public Service moderated the program. Panelists discussed various topics surrounding civil society, while also championing volunteerism and service for their respective organizations and communities. Attendees included partner representatives from Bank of America, business and community leaders, and DC-based Bush School faculty/staff/former students from the area who all came together to fellowship and engage in meaningful dialogue regarding the future of voluntary action in the form of public service.
Derrick Perkins, Market Executive for Bank of America in the Greater Washington, D.C. area, began the night with some opening comments before Dr. Will Brown, Director of the Center for Nonprofits & Philanthropy at the Bush School, introduced the panelists.
“In 2022, BOA employees volunteered over 2 million hours…that commitment to sort of selflessness and sort of ensuring that you’re being active in communities in which we are operating. In DC, we had over 20,000 hours provided by 2,300 associates so we’re proud about that and looking forward to that to look into what is driving that volunteerism. It’s really important. I’m excited that you guys are here today.”
-Derrick Perkins
In 2000, Bank of America endowed this Program on Volunteerism to the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library & Museum Foundation to educate individuals and corporations on the importance of volunteer and nonprofit activities in today’s society. The Mosbacher Institute for Trade, Economics, and Public Policy presented the program annually at the Bush School of Government and Public Service until 2018. In 2018, the Bush School’s Center for Nonprofits & Philanthropy was launched, and the Bank of America Program on Volunteerism was passed from the Mosbacher Institute to the Center. The Center for Nonprofits & Philanthropy was honored to celebrate this program as part of the Bush School’s 25th Anniversary Celebration.
