The International Year of Volunteers aims to celebrate and advocate volunteerism around the world by applauding the achievements of volunteers and building more government, nonprofit and private sector partnerships that will engage new volunteers in alleviating local social problems.

Many countries have developed or will be developing a committee to plan for the successful implementation of IYV 2001. In the United States, the Points of Light Foundation and the Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI) have partnered to convene and lead the United States Steering Committee.

The United States Committee is co-chaired by AJLI President, Clotilde Dedecker, and Points of Light Foundation Board Chairman, Norm Brown. Members of the committee represent a broad diversity of organizations and sectors including the National Council of Volunteer Centers, National Council on Workplace Volunteering, Connect America, Association for Volunteer Administrators, National Parents and Teachers Association and USA WEEKEND.