Michelle Obama, Maria Shriver Boosting Volunteerism in San Francisco

I was there, I remember it well: UCLA on Feb. 3, 2008, the weekend before the crucial California Democratic primary. Michelle Obama was at a rally for her husband's campaign, along with Oprah Winfrey, Caroline Kennedy, Stevie Wonder -- and a surprise: Kennedy's cousin Maria Shriver, the First Lady of California.


Winfrey and Kennedy had been stumping for Barack Obama, and the news (besides Wonder dropping in) was that Shriver was backing Obama for president, rushing to Los Angeles at the last minute at the urging of cousin Caroline. (My photo gallery of the UCLA rally here)

In its day, this created a mini-buzz, not so much because Shriver preferred Obama to rival Hillary Clinton but because her husband, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, had endorsed John McCain for the Republican presidential nomination on Jan. 31.

Fast forward to Monday, June 22, 2009, when the two Chicago-born first ladies -- Michelle Obama, First Lady of the United States and Maria Shriver, First Lady of California -- appear together in San Francisco at a conference to boost volunteerism, a cause both of them have embraced.

They will appear together the 2009 National Conference on Volunteering and Service. The two will deliver brief remarks and, according to a release from Mrs. Obama's office, "work on a community playground service project with volunteers at a mid-day event at Bret Harte Elementary School in San Francisco."

Later on Monday afternoon, Mrs. Obama gives a keynote address to the conference, hosted by the Corporation for National and Community Service and the Points of Light Institute at the Moscone Center.

Mrs. Obama's San Francisco visit leads off a string of events across the country in which Cabinet members will highlight volunteer projects.

Shriver's father, Sargent, was a driving force behind the creation of the Peace Corps, Vista and other volunteer and service organizations. In Chicago he ran the Kennedy family property the Merchandise Mart and was the president of the Chicago Board of Education.

So it's easy to see how his daughter, a former NBC reporter, draws on her family legacy of service. Shriver's father is now suffering from Alzheimer's. Shriver's crusade to build playgrounds also ties in with her father's disease as well.

According to a release from California Volunteers, "This play space marks the first fully intergenerational volunteer-build playground, with kids, parents, seniors and Alzheimer's experts engaged in every step of the planning and construction process. An edible garden will feature a farmer's market stand, allowing kids and seniors from the community to create a micro enterprise, sell vegetables and raise money for the school. The playground will be constructed in collaboration and the Northern California and Northern Nevada Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, which continues Shriver's advocacy on behalf of families struggling with Alzheimer's disease."

San Francisco Chronicle political writer Carla Marinucci, who knows everything about politics in California, reported that Mrs. Obama's "White House push to encourage volunteerism in San Francisco on Monday (is) a move that will have political figures here elbowing each other to get in the frame with her.

"But step aside, folks, it's California first lady Maria Shriver who snags that honor before all. Volunteerism has long been her leading issue, and she's going to be alongside Michelle Obama for the day.

"Expect politicians to show up, too, like San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, a 2010 Democratic gubernatorial candidate.

"Shriver and Obama will work together on a community playground service project at Bret Harte Elementary School in San Francisco midday. They'll help to construct the playground along with folks from KaBOOM, which builds play spaces for kids around the country. Shriver has long been involved with this group; her office says it's her 300th playground build."