--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If every American donated five hours a…" description: "\"If every American donated five hours a week, it would equal the labor of 20 million full-time volunteers.\" — Whoopi Goldberg" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/whoopi-goldberg-3323_american_if-every-american-donated-five-hours-a-w_1007529.jpg" --- # If every American donated five hours a week, it would… ![“If every American donated five hours a week, it would equal the labor of 20 million full-time volunteers.” quote by Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/whoopi-goldberg-3323_american_if-every-american-donated-five-hours-a-w_1007529.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/whoopi-goldberg-3323_american_if-every-american-donated-five-hours-a-w_1007529.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/whoopi-goldberg-3323_american_if-every-american-donated-five-hours-a-w_1007529.jpg) > “If every American donated five hours a week, it would equal the labor of 20 million full-time volunteers.” [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suggests that a modest volunteer commitment from each person could match massive volunteer labor. **In simple terms:** Small contributions add up to huge impact. Key Takeaway Donate time regularly. Themes volunteering community collective action efficiency Mood encouraging pragmatic Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - non‑profit work - local projects - online tutoring - environmental clean‑ups Key Concepts Social capital Civic responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How could you realistically contribute time? - What barriers prevent regular volunteering? A Different Perspective Not everyone can spare five hours weekly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [20 Million](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/20-million-372770/) [American](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) [American Donated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-donated-2167219/) [Donated Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/donated-hours-2167220/) [Equal Labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal-labor-2167221/) [Five](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five/) [Labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor/) [Labor 20](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor-20-2167218/) [Million](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/million/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) ## Related quotes > [If every American donated five hours a week, it would equal the labor of twenty million full-time volunteers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/if-every-american-donated-five-hours-a-week-it-would-equal-the-labor-2/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [I'm not saying we need to make $20 million a fight but top guys like Jon Jones, Jorge, McGregor and those other top guys,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-blaydes/i-m-not-saying-we-need-to-make-20-million-a-fight-but-top-guys-like/) [Curtis Blaydes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-blaydes/) > [I'm not really the type to jump into a $20 million film just to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-baker/i-m-not-really-the-type-to-jump-into-a-20-million-film-just-to-do-it/) [Sean Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-baker/) > [What I would say is that, watching one's work for the first time, alongside, like, 10 to 20 million people is definitely quite vulnerable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-d-arcy/what-i-would-say-is-that-watching-one-s-work-for-the-first-time/) [Emma D'Arcy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-d-arcy/) > [You look at something like health care, the Affordable Care Act. And for all the controversy, we now have 20 million people who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/you-look-at-something-like-health-care-the-affordable-care-act-and/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I've never made $20 million. I'm scared. I don't know if you gave me The Ring if I could carry it and bring it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-ve-never-made-20-million-i-m-scared-i-don-t-know-if-you-gave-me-the/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [Something economically changed. It used to be that you needed 20 million people to watch a TV show for it to be a hit.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/something-economically-changed-it-used-to-be-that-you-needed-20/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [I've had over $20 million spent attacking me. That's not grassroots money. That's money from the establishment. We have always had to take on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/i-ve-had-over-20-million-spent-attacking-me-that-s-not-grassroots/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [The only difference from one $100 million budget film to another is which of the 12 box stars are getting $20 million to be in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-benedict/the-only-difference-from-one-100-million-budget-film-to-another-is/) [Dirk Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-benedict/) > [20 million people thrown off of health insurance, prescription drug prices raising for seniors, privatization of Medicare: devastation. And we've got to fight back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/20-million-people-thrown-off-of-health-insurance-prescription-drug/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [We are a nation of 20 million bathrooms, with a humanist in every tub.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccarthy/we-are-a-nation-of-20-million-bathrooms-with-a-humanist-in-every-tub/) [Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccarthy/) > [The first thing you need to run for President is a budget of around $20 million dollars a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-first-thing-you-need-to-run-for-president-is-a-budget-of-around/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [20 million on a ocean view, grinding that's what I'm supposed to do. Coach K and I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/birdman/20-million-on-a-ocean-view-grinding-that-s-what-i-m-supposed-to-do/) [Birdman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/birdman/) > [When a show fails to destroy the competition-and it can fail while attracting 20 million viewers-it is itself destroyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-brown/when-a-show-fails-to-destroy-the-competition-and-it-can-fail-while/) [Les Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-brown/) > [ If \[Donald\] Trump throws 20 million off of health care, that's going to be - if he handles this badly - and it's very… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/if-donald-trump-throws-20-million-off-of-health-care-that-s-going-to/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) ## More by Whoopi Goldberg > [My family is Jewish, Buddhist, Baptist and Catholic. I don't believe in man-made religions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/my-family-is-jewish-buddhist-baptist-and-catholic-i-don-t-believe-in/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [“Remember what the fashion big mouths were saying about Jessica Simpson? Looking at her magazine pictures, sucking their teeth, going, "Oh, look at her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/remember-what-the-fashion-big-mouths-were-saying-about-jessica/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [ \[The original Sister Act\] is running all over the world now, on-stage as a musical. It lives! ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/the-original-sister-act-is-running-all-over-the-world-now-on-stage-as/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [I want Carl Sagan to explain the sky to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/i-want-carl-sagan-to-explain-the-sky-to-me/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [I dig being a mother...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/i-dig-being-a-mother/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [What we're doing is not just about becoming a model. It's bigger than that. It's shining a spotlight on folks who know who they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/what-we-re-doing-is-not-just-about-becoming-a-model-it-s-bigger-than/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [I'm a big old egotistical baby and that's okay. I can accept it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/i-m-a-big-old-egotistical-baby-and-that-s-okay-i-can-accept-it/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [For some reason, all artists have self-esteem issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/for-some-reason-all-artists-have-self-esteem-issues/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [I fear waking up one morning and finding out my life was all for nothing. We're here for a reason. I believe a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/i-fear-waking-up-one-morning-and-finding-out-my-life-was-all-for/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [ \[On her monologue as the thief 'Fontaine':\] People always got things. People always want things. So I provide a service. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/on-her-monologue-as-the-thief-fontaine-people-always-got-things/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [“People have the power we give them. Words have the power we give them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/people-have-the-power-we-give-them-words-have-the-power-we-give-them/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [I don't have pet peeves like some people. I have whole kennels of irritation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/i-don-t-have-pet-peeves-like-some-people-i-have-whole-kennels-of/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [If You don't like Gay Marriage, Don't Marry a Gay Person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/if-you-don-t-like-gay-marriage-don-t-marry-a-gay-person/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [Now, I've always known that there were bullies in the world. We've seen a lot of it in politics lately as well as in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/now-i-ve-always-known-that-there-were-bullies-in-the-world-we-ve-seen/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [You don't want to think something might be racist, but it might be, because your gut is telling you it is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/you-don-t-want-to-think-something-might-be-racist-but-it-might-be/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) [Explore all 133 Whoopi Goldberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) ## More American quotes > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [I have fallen in love with American names, the sharp names that never get fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/i-have-fallen-in-love-with-american-names-the-sharp-names-that-never/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [I really like a lot of American country stuff, so my music has that influence, but I don't like to be set within a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-bird/i-really-like-a-lot-of-american-country-stuff-so-my-music-has-that/) [Jade Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-bird/) > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in a tremendous investment to support millions of workers without a paycheck and behind on bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-auchincloss/congress-passed-the-american-rescue-plan-act-in-a-tremendous/) [Jake Auchincloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-auchincloss/) > [Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and employ almost half of the working population. Yet because of their size, they rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-lipinski/small-businesses-are-the-backbone-of-the-american-economy-and-employ/) [Dan Lipinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-lipinski/) > [Although I write in English, and despite the fact that I'm from America, I consider myself an Armenian writer. The words I use are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/although-i-write-in-english-and-despite-the-fact-that-i-m-from/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [Firefighters and rescue workers are American superheroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/firefighters-and-rescue-workers-are-american-superheroes/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [France has not only built a bureaucratic barrier against American culture, it has constructed a notorious intellectual case against it as well. The French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/france-has-not-only-built-a-bureaucratic-barrier-against-american/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [New York and San Francisco are distinctly different. San Francisco is driving the American media, not New York. You have young, microwaved millionaires and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-whitlock/new-york-and-san-francisco-are-distinctly-different-san-francisco-is/) [Jason Whitlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-whitlock/) > [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. We have to take risks and it's important that we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/well-look-cia-is-an-agency-that-has-to-collect-intelligence-do/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [Food as a hobby used to be an elite pastime, and it has become something that is totally ordinary for people of every background.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/food-as-a-hobby-used-to-be-an-elite-pastime-and-it-has-become/) [Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/) > [It's important for American soldiers to be culturally sensitive when deployed in foreign countries. But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) [Browse all 7,717 American quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If every American donated five hours a week, it would equal the labor of 20 million full-time volunteers.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Whoopi Goldberg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/if-every-american-donated-five-hours-a-week-it-would-equal-the-labor/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/if-every-american-donated-five-hours-a-week-it-would-equal-the-labor/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/whoopi-goldberg-3323_american_if-every-american-donated-five-hours-a-w_1007529.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/whoopi-goldberg-3323_american_if-every-american-donated-five-hours-a-w_1007529.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/whoopi-goldberg-3323_american_if-every-american-donated-five-hours-a-w_1007529.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If every American donated five hours a week, it would equal the labor of 20 million full-time volunteers.” — Whoopi Goldberg", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Whoopi Goldberg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If every American donated five hours...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/if-every-american-donated-five-hours-a-week-it-would-equal-the-labor/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/if-every-american-donated-five-hours-a-week-it-would-equal-the-labor/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```