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Skriven 2007-02-13 23:31:16 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (070213) for Tue, 2007 Feb 13
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Fact Sheet: Five Years Of USA Freedom Corps: Celebrating American Service
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For Immediate Release
February 13, 2007

Fact Sheet: Five Years Of USA Freedom Corps: Celebrating American Service


ÿÿÿÿÿ President Bush Discusses Volunteerism ÿÿÿÿÿ Fifth Anniversary of USA
Freedom Corps, 2007

Today, President And Mrs. Bush Celebrated The Fifth Anniversary Of USA
Freedom Corps. In his 2002 State of the Union Address, President Bush
announced the creation of USA Freedom Corps (USAFC) to build on the acts of
service and generosity that followed the September 11 attacks. USAFC
promotes and expands volunteer service in America by partnering with
national service programs, working to strengthen the non-profit sector,
recognizing volunteers, and helping to connect individuals with volunteer
opportunities.
  þ President And Mrs. Bush Participated In A Briefing On Volunteerism.
    President and Mrs. Bush met with representatives from the volunteer
    community and professors who study volunteerism to discuss ways to
    further support American volunteerism.
  þ President Bush Will Visit The YMCA Anthony Bowen And Participate In A
    "Mini-Majig" Event Designed To Spark Interest In Science And Technology
    Among Youth. In 1853, the YMCA Anthony Bowen was founded as the first
    African-American YMCA in the United States. Today, the President will
    meet there with students and volunteers at a smaller version of YMCA's
    annual "Thingamajig," an event where mentors from technological
    professions work with youth to develop skills and offer exposure to
    career paths in science and technology.

Building A Culture Of Service, Citizenship, And Responsibility

Under President Bush's Leadership, The Corporation For National And
Community Service Will Meet The President's 2002 State Of The Union Goal Of
Supporting 75,000 AmeriCorps Members This Year. The President has also
requested funding to support 75,000 members in 2008. In addition, under the
President's leadership:
  þ Senior Corps has supported more than 500,000 older volunteers annually.
  þ Learn and Serve America has supported more than 1 million students in
    service each year.
  þ The Peace Corps has reached a 30-year high in the number of volunteers
    in the field.
  þ Nearly 2,000 communities in all 56 States and Territories have
    established Citizen Corps Councils to help inform and train citizens in
    emergency preparedness.
  þ The Medical Reserve Corps supports nearly 600 units in 50 states.
  þ Volunteers for Prosperity has helped mobilize 21,000 volunteers through
    220 partner organizations.
  þ In 2006, More Than 61 Million Americans Volunteered _ A Near 30-Year
    High. This number was slightly lower than in 2005, and today the
    President and Mrs. Bush discussed ways to further support volunteerism
    in America. Between the President's 2002 call to service and the
    devastation of Hurricane Katrina three years later, the number of
    Americans volunteering has risen from 59.5 million in 2002 to 65.4
    million in 2005, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
  þ The USAFC Website Is Connecting Americans To Volunteer Opportunities.
    USAFC offers a website, www.volunteer.gov, and a toll-free number,
    1-877-USA-CORPS, for Americans to find existing volunteer service
    opportunities in their area. The online clearinghouse includes more
    than 3 million volunteer opportunities from organizations across the
    country.
  þ In 2003, President Bush Created The President's Council On Service And
    Civic Participation To Recognize The Important Contributions Americans
    Are Making Through Service And Civic Engagement. The Council brings
    together 25 leaders from the worlds of business, entertainment, sports,
    education, government, non-profits, and the media. Since 2003, the
    Council has recognized more than 517,000 Americans with the President's
    Volunteer Service Award.

USAFC Greeters _ Examples Of American Service

In 2006, President Bush Recognized His 550th Volunteer For Dedication To
Volunteer Service. In conjunction with travel throughout the United States,
the President has met more than 550 volunteers, called USA Freedom Corps
Greeters, since March 2002. Greeters are nominated for this honor by local
volunteer organizations, and each greeter receives the President's
Volunteer Service Award, created by the President to recognize outstanding
volunteers. Recent greeters include:
  þ Katya Lyzhina, 16, Little Rock, Arkansas: Katya greeted President Bush
    in February 2005. In 2004, she started Hope's Miracle, an organization
    that raises funds to assist families with adoption costs. Reminded of
    the indignity she felt carrying everything she owned in a potato sack
    before her adoption from a Russian orphanage, Katya has also started a
    program called Baggage Claim, through which she has collected suitcases
    for every child in foster care in Little Rock. She also collected more
    than two tons of pasta to help feed the homeless and collected 4,000
    books to help build libraries for after-school programs in Little Rock.
  þ Zach Bonner, 9, Tampa, Florida: Zach greeted President Bush in
    September 2006. When he heard about the devastation in Florida caused
    by Hurricane Charley, Zach began collecting supplies in his little red
    wagon for families in need _ an effort that ultimately resulted in the
    donation of more than 25 truckloads of supplies. Following Hurricane
    Katrina, he organized a similar drive, and in 2005, Zach started the
    Little Red Wagon Foundation, Inc., to provide opportunities for kids to
    help other kids in need. Teaming up with Stand Up For Kids, a
    non-profit organization that helps homeless youth, Zach assembled more
    than 400 backpacks filled with donated snacks, personal hygiene items,
    underwear, first-aid kits, and toys.
  þ Kristen Holloway, 31, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Kristen greeted
    President Bush in March 2006. She is the founder and president of
    Operation Troop Appreciation (OTA), a non-profit organization dedicated
    to supporting military troops. Since its inception, OTA has reached
    more than 21,000 troops with care packages tailored to meet specific
    "wish list" requests. Through fundraising and in-kind donations, OTA
    volunteers have collected and sent items including phone cards, sports
    equipment, musical instruments, cosmetics, and DVDs. In addition, each
    care package also includes a letter of thanks to each solider in the
    unit.
  þ Eloise Monsarrat, 84, Honolulu, Hawaii: Eloise greeted President Bush
    in November 2006. She is a volunteer with the Human Animal Bond
    Program, a pet therapy program that allows volunteers to bring
    specially chosen pets to Tripler Army Medical Center's wards, clinics,
    and waiting areas for informal visits. During the past 16 years, Eloise
    has logged more than 10,000 hours as a pet handler with this program.
  þ Matthew Cook, 17, Rancho Palos Verdes, California: Matthew greeted
    President Bush in October 2006. Matthew is the founder of the Mile-Long
    Yellow Ribbon Project, through which he traveled to 25 states and
    collected nearly 10,000 youth signatures on a yellow ribbon which, upon
    completion, stretched one mile long. He shipped the ribbon to troops
    serving in Iraq to remind them of the gratitude and respect of the
    Nation's youth. Matthew is also the founder of the Matthew Cook and
    Friends Dolphin Research Fund, which supports research at
    Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute in San Diego. He produced and
    directed a film to encourage marine conservation awareness among
    elementary and middle school students.
  þ Eloise Hadaway, 84, Warner Robins, Georgia: Eloise greeted President
    Bush in October 2006. She is a volunteer with Volunteer Macon and the
    Retired and Senior Volunteer Program. Every morning, she drives to a
    local supermarket to pick up donated food and deliver it to Macon
    Outreach, helping feed more than 150 people each week. She is also a
    Golden Guide, helping visitors navigate the Medical Center of Central
    Georgia, and a volunteer at The Villas at College Hill, an
    assisted-living facility where her 104-year-old mother resides.
  þ David Jewison, 27, Minneapolis, Minnesota: David greeted President Bush
    in August 2006. He is a volunteer with the University of Minnesota
    Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). Following Hurricane Katrina, David spent
    nearly three weeks assisting physicians in the relief efforts in
    Lafayette, Louisiana, and the surrounding communities. The volunteers
    treated patients with needs ranging from hypertension and prenatal care
    to minor surgery. He also conducted clinics to update volunteers on
    proper techniques for administering vaccinations.
  þ Sally Adams, 49, Albuquerque, New Mexico: Sally greeted President Bush
    in August 2005. For more than 10 years, she has been a volunteer with
    Junior Achievement of New Mexico, which brings mentors and business
    volunteers into classrooms to educate young people about business and
    economics. She has also taught entrepreneurship and free enterprise
    classes for over three years to fifth-grade students at Los Ranchos
    Elementary School. In addition, she assists with Junior Achievement's
    marketing, community outreach, and fundraising programs.
  þ Dave Kruger, 62, Chicago, Illinois: Dave greeted President Bush in July
    2006. He has been a volunteer with the United Service Organizations of
    Illinois for two years and volunteers every weekend at the Home Away
    From Home Centers located at Naval Station Great Lakes and Chicago
    O'Hare International Airport. He provides information, assistance, and
    resources to troops visiting the USO facilities. He also coordinates
    the purchase and delivery of supplies used to prepare meals for
    military personnel visiting the Home Away From Home Centers. During the
    past two years, Dave has volunteered more than 1,300 hours and assisted
    more than 4,500 service personnel.

USA Freedom Corps

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