Aslan CEO, Craig Bogard, meeting President Bush at JFK, International in 1992
National Volunteer Week is MAY 17 – 23, 2020. Volunteers are the backbone of Aslan Youth Ministries! When my sister, Dusty, brother-in-law, Bill, Lynn Ann and I founded Aslan in 1975, we quickly realized the four of us needed to multiply ourselves so that we could reach more children. Our first volunteers were Bible class teachers and aides, and we soon moved from there to begin recruiting tutor & mentors to work one-on-one with our Aslan kids.
Over the past 45 years, we’ve had every kind of volunteer imaginable – board members, office staff, program coordinators, bus & van drivers, summer camp counselors, Holiday volunteers, Haiti team members and myriad others! In any given year, 500 people give of their time and talents in service to our children and families.
Point of Light Medals awarded to Lynn Ann & Craig Bogard at Disneyworld Celebration in 1991
The time you give and the talents you bring to us are immeasurable and incredibly important to us. This past year, Aslan volunteers contributed over $600,000 in time, space and goods. Combined with the value of Aslan’s overall operations, we were able to provide over $1 million in goods and services to the children and families we serve in New Jersey and Haiti!
Words simply are not adequate to describe how much we appreciate each and every one of you who have, over the past 45 years, given so much of yourselves on behalf of the children and families of Aslan. Please accept our sincerest thanks and appreciation. And please keep giving your time and encouraging others to volunteer their time for the blessed and worthy cause of Aslan Youth Ministries.
The following is a timeless, personal message to each of you from President George H.W. Bush from the letter he sent to us on September 19, 1991.
I am delighted to learn of your outstanding work in behalf of your community. Your generosity and willingness to serve others merit the highest praise, and I am pleased to recognize you as the 566th ‘Daily Point of Light.’ I have often noted that, from now on in America, any definition of a successful life must include serving others. Your efforts provide a shining example of this standard.”
George H.W. Bush
