December 11, 1997 | Read Time: 2 minutes
America’s Promise, the national charity created to encourage more people to help disadvantaged youth, has overcome a bumpy start and won commitments from more than 350 corporations and organizations toward its goal of reaching two million young people by 2000.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” said retired Gen. Colin L. Powell, who chairs the charity.
At a press conference in Washington last month, dubbed “Report to the Nation,” General Powell provided an update of the group’s progress since last April’s Presidents’ Summit for America’s Future, a meeting of top political, business, and charity leaders designed to mobilize volunteers to help children. America’s Promise was created to carry out the meeting’s goals.
“We had some start-up problems,” General Powell acknowledged. The group has had three executive directors since it was created. But, he said, the organizational confusion has not kept the charity from continuing to attract commitments.
Among the recent pledges:
* The Kellogg Company promised to distribute 100 million boxes of Rice Krispies and Corn Flakes containing messages about the volunteer effort.
* Kaboom, a national charity that builds playgrounds in poor neighborhoods, has pledged to build 1,000 playgrounds throughout the country and raise $25-million for playground equipment.
* America’s Promise employees will serve as mentors to students in two public schools, one in Alexandria, Va., and one in Washington, D.C.
In addition to the commitments, General Powell said, a dozen states and 41 cities and towns have held their own meetings to organize local volunteer efforts.
Many more meetings are scheduled.
To receive a copy of the organization’s “Report to the Nation,” write to America’s Promise, 9090 North Washington Street, Suite 400, Alexandria, Va. 22314-1556, or call (703) 684-4500. The report may also be viewed on the organization’s World-Wide Web site at http://www.americaspromise.org/report/.
