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Franklin College has created Indiana’s first countywide, nonprofit resource center with headquarters on a college campus. Grants from the Ball Foundation Venture Fund and the Corporation for National and Community Service through AmeriCorps are providing financial support.

The Nonprofit Resource Center is aimed at helping in areas of nonprofit practice that are highly affected by the current economic crisis while providing real-world learning experiences for students.

“Nonprofit agencies have traditionally struggled with the professionalization of their communication tools, public relations strategies, grant proposals, volunteer programs and Web sites,” said Jann Johnson, director of AmeriCorps and professional development at the college.

The projects are not typically assigned to one staff person and are visited only when urgently needed or as time allows, she explained.

“As agencies examine their tightening budgets, they choose direct services to clients as their focus, and other projects start to slide further behind immediate service needs. The Nonprofit Resource Center will allow Franklin College to help agencies continue to develop and professionalize in these areas, even during this tough economic climate.”

Read more: New Center on Franklin College Campus Serves Nonprofits

The NFL Players Association and its players have joined President Barack Obama in his mission to build a stronger nation through the “United We Serve” initiative, a national effort designed to encourage more Americans to serve their communities.

“The players of the National Football League have a unique opportunity to serve as role models – both on and off the field – and I applaud them for answering the call to service through ‘United We Serve,’” President Obama said.“Their example proves that anyone, whether the toughest of athletes or the youngest of fans, has what it takes to make a difference in the life of their communities and their country.”

Together with the Corporation for National and Community Service, the NFLPA has taken on an important role in promoting the president’s call to action. This morning, the NFLPA distributed a public service announcement to media outlets across the country that asks Americans to volunteer their time and build stronger communities.

Read more: NFL Players Association Joins President Obama in Call to Service -- Video

San Francisco, CA – Speaking to a record-breaking 5,000 attendees, First Lady Michelle Obama called on all Americans to participate in our nation's renewal and recovery in a keynote address at the opening session of the National Conference on Volunteering and Service at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA.

“This, more than anything, is the key point I want to make today – that this new Administration doesn't view service as separate from our national priorities, or in addition to our national priorities – we see it as the key to achieving our national priorities.We believe that the only way to build that new foundation for our economy is to establish a new role for service in this country,” she said.

The First Lady announced the launch of United We Serve, a sustained effort to expand the size and impact of volunteer efforts in America. The initial phase of United We Serve runs for 81 days through a new National Day of Service and Remembrance on September 11. More than a dozen members of President Obama's Cabinet participated in the kick-off by fanning out across the country to join in service projects.

Read more: First Lady Michelle Obama Issues Call to Service to Nation’s Volunteer Leaders