First lady launches summer of service

SAN FRANCISCO, June 23 (UPI) -- First lady Michelle Obama goosed a crowd of about 4,500 volunteers in San Francisco, telling them service is key to achieving national priorities.

Obama asked those attending the National Conference of Volunteering and Service Monday to join the United We Serve initiative, a nationwide summer volunteer challenge inaugurated Monday and ending Sept. 11, a new national day of service and remembrance of those who died in the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, USA Today reported Tuesday.

"This new Obama administration doesn't view service as something separate from our national priorities," she said. "We have an administration that understands that service is the key to achieving our national priorities. For far too long, we've viewed service in our communities as largely separate from our policies in government."

Earlier in the day, the first lady got dirty helping to build a playground at a San Francisco elementary school, joined by California first lady Maria Shriver and several hundred volunteers.

The playground on the Bret Harte Elementary School campus is open to the public and designed to serve both youth and seniors, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. The initiative includes access to board games, an exercise path and raised planting beds for gardening.

Obama also announced the Entertainment Industry Foundation's plans to work with the major television networks to incorporate service and volunteerism themes and plots for some TV series starting Oct. 19.