"America's Promise is pulling together the might of this nation to strengthen the character and competence of youth. And it's working." Founding Chairman, General Colin L. Powell
America's Promise was founded after the Presidents' Summit for America's Future, April 27-28, 1997, in Philadelphia. Presidents Clinton, Bush, Carter, and Ford with First Lady Nancy Reagan representing her husband, challenged the nation to make youth a national priority. Their call to action included a commitment on the part of the nation to fulfill the Five Promises. Also attending were nearly 30 governors, 100 mayors, 145 community delegations, dozens of prominent business leaders and several thousand concerned citizens. The Summit was co-sponsored by the Points of Light Foundation, the Corporation for National Service and The United Way of America.
America's Promise has created a diverse and growing Alliance of more than 400 national organizations called Partners which make large-scale national commitments to fulfill one or more of the Five Promises, and more than 400 local efforts involving community and state partners across the nation which have united to fulfill the Five Promises.