Bon Jovi set to promote volunteering

WASHINGTON (AP) - Singer Jon Bon Jovi is hoping to rouse the crowds at his concerts into volunteering.

The rock star will promote President Barack Obama's service initiative "United We Serve" in a video to run at 30 concert venues in the U.S., starting Thursday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. AmeriCorps members and volunteers from local nonprofits will also be on hand to talk with concertgoers about how to find or create community service jobs through the program's Web site.

Obama doesn't appear in the video and isn't even mentioned, but Bon Jovi talks about the importance of lending a hand.

"We can tackle the tough challenges we face and build community through service and volunteering," Bon Jovi says in the roughly two-minute video. "The reality is, we're all in this together."

The video shows pictures of people working on homes, helping children and painting, and directs people to the "United We Serve" Web site.

A similar 60-second public service announcement that includes pictures of Obama and his wife, Michelle, is scheduled to air on television in the cities on Bon Jovi's tour.

Obama launched "United We Serve" last summer. The nationwide volunteer initiative is aimed at getting people to tackle problems in the areas of education, health, energy and the environment and community renewal.

Bon Jovi said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press that he spoke with Obama during the presidential campaign about what the musician and actor could do to help bolster volunteerism. The video and PSA are a collaboration between Bon Jovi and the government-run Corporation for National and Community Service to urge people to get involved in "whatever moves you."

"For me it's affordable housing," Bon Jovi said. "For you it may be something else. But all these little bits make for one greater sum of the parts. It'll make for a better whole."

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On the Net:

United We Serve: http://www.serve.gov