What Do You Get a President for His Birthday?

Points of Light Says: 'Give 41 the One Gift He's Sure to Love - Your Pledge to Serve'

June 12 Daily Point of Light Award Goes to the Joy of Sox, A Philadelphia Nonprofit That Provides Socks to the Homeless

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Jun 09, 2014, 03:36 ET

ATLANTA, June 9, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Points of Light, one of the world's leading organizations dedicated to volunteer service, today announced it will honor its founder's 90th birthday on June 12 by inviting the public to give President George H. W. Bush "the one gift he's sure to love – your pledge to serve."

People who'd like to wish the President happy birthday and pay tribute to his lifetime of service can now go to BeOne.PointsofLight.org and pledge to volunteer. They can pledge to tutor a child, plant a community garden, serve at a local food bank – whatever they feel passionately about. When they pledge, a point of light will appear on a national map.

Points of Light President Tracy Hoover urged people "to make a service pledge today and join in this very special happy birthday chorus."

In addition, Points of Light will give the June 12 Daily Point of Light Award – an award President Bush created in 1989 that has been given continuously since then – to The Joy of Sox, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit that provides much-needed socks to homeless people.

Socks are among the most needed items at homeless shelters, yet among the least-often donated. Tom Costello Jr., founder and "Chief Sock Person" at The Joy of Sox, says even regular donors of clothing will wear their own socks until they have holes and then throw them away. Because of the shortage, the nation's homeless population is constantly at risk of serious foot disease and, during winter months, in severe danger posed by the cold.

Since Costello founded The Joy of Sox in 2011, the organization – which he operates from the back of his house – has distributed 157,000 pairs of new socks to the homeless.

President Bush made the call to public and community service a centerpiece of his presidency. He founded Points of Light in 1990 to promote the spirit of volunteerism. Today Points of Light is the largest organization in the world dedicated to volunteer service.

CONTACT: Stefanie Weiss, [email protected], 240-461-7137

SOURCE Points of Light