GREENSBORO — Big names and big plans gathered in Greensboro on Wednesday, hoping to show that all North Carolinians can make a difference in the lives of others.

More than a thousand volunteers from all of North Carolina's 100 counties are meeting in the Triad to talk about giving the community a hand. The Governor's Summit on America's Promise and Volunteerism is designed to develop ways of helping the state's children, and to promote volunteerism.

Shaw University's Dr. William Thurston says that the meeting should help folks pool their resources together for a common good.

Governor Hunt hopes to make the volunteer spirit contagious, spreading it across the state. To accomplish that, it will be important to get non-profit, religious, and community organizations involved. Kathie Higgins of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina says that the private sector is an important piece in the puzzle.

Former New Jersey U.S. Senator and NBA great Bill Bradley spoke at the summit, as well as American Red Cross President Elizabeth Dole. Dole says that helping others is a great way to help yourself.

If you'd like to get involved by volunteering in your community, call your local United Way. They'll be able to get you started by directing you to a local agency that could use a hand.