By Wendy Spencer

This Thanksgiving, I am reminded that one of our nation’s most cherished ideals – helping our neighbors – is also one of our oldest. Americans have long understood that, truly, one must give in order to receive.

So I want to take this opportunity to give thanks to all of you –
To the friends and champions of national service, who tirelessly promote service as a solution in local communities while also working with us to become even more innovative and create more opportunities to serve.

I give thanks to our colleagues – here in Washington, DC, and across the nation – who have devoted their careers to helping others.

I give thanks to our many partners, especially those in the State Service Commissions who work every day to ensure our resources are invested efficiently and effectively so that they make a real difference in families’ lives.

I give thanks to our nearly 400,000 AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps volunteers, and those making a difference through the Social Innovation Fund – passionate, dedicated people whose commitment and character are improving the odds for Americans in communities big and small, urban and rural, from coast to coast.

And I give thanks to our men and women in uniform, many of whom have returned from defending freedom abroad to strengthen, renew, and expand opportunity here at home.

My hope this holiday season is that the gratitude we all feel for those who give will help rekindle the spirit of service that remains such an incredible source of strength for our entire nation.

Wendy Spencer is the CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service.