President George W. Bush established the Council on Service and Civic Participation in January of 2003, on the first anniversary of the USA Freedom Corps, and he charged the Council members with promoting and recognizing the contributions that Americans of all ages and backgrounds are making through volunteer service.
The Council’s main efforts are to promote volunteer service and civic participation in American society. They also endorse the recognition of outstanding volunteer service through the presentation of the President's Volunteer Service Award by Council members and Certifying Organizations. They work to support the efforts and needs of local non-profits and volunteer organizations, including volunteer centers, and encourage greater public access to information about existing volunteer opportunities, including via the Internet. The Council also promotes increased and sustained private sector sponsorship of and engagement in volunteer service and make recommendations on ways to encourage greater levels of volunteer service and civic participation by individuals, schools, and organizations.
This prestigious nomination comes on the eve of Smith’s motion picture debut in the Provident Films release, The Second Chance. Starring in his first feature film, Smith plays a pastor sent from a wealthy church to serve an inner-city congregation. Directed and co-written by Christian music industry veteran Steve Taylor, The Second Chance will be distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing under the Triumph Films banner on February 17, 2006.
The film’s motion picture soundtrack, featuring new and original music from Smith, Third Day, Fred Hammond, Andrae Crouch, Ruben Studdard, John Legend, and more, released in December on Reunion Records and has already spanned the hit “Total Praise,” performed by Smith.
