President George W. Bush will present the President’s Volunteer Service Award to Sharon Randolph when he arrives at the airport in Dallas, Texas, on Friday, February 3, 2006. Randolph is a volunteer with a variety of organizations including In-Unity, Inc. and Sunset Baptist Church in Grand Prairie, Texas. To thank them for making a difference in the lives of others, President Bush has met with more than 460 individuals around the country, like Randolph, since March 2002.

Randolph is a founding member of In-Unity, Inc., an organization sponsored by Lockheed Martin dedicated to improving education for at-risk students. In addition, she has been a volunteer tutor for 12 years for second- and third-grade students at Fannie C. Harris Elementary School in Dallas. Randolph is also the volunteer youth director for Sunset Baptist Church, and for more than 10 years, she has been a member of the church’s Big Sister mentoring program for young women. She also assists with the church’s senior citizen dinners, nursing home visits, and choir programs.

In his January 2002 State of the Union Address, President Bush called on all Americans to make a difference in their communities through volunteer service. He created USA Freedom Corps, an Office of the White House, to strengthen and expand volunteer service. Americans are responding to the President’s Call to Service. Studies show that approximately 6 million more Americans are volunteering today than in 2001. Go to www.volunteer.gov or call 1-877-USA-CORPS to find an existing volunteer service opportunity in your area or to find more information about service programs, including national service programs such as the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and Citizen Corps. USA Freedom Corps is also highlighting youth volunteer service. Visit www.usafreedomcorpskids.gov for games and ideas designed to show how America's youth are making a difference.

The President's Volunteer Service Award was created at the President’s direction by the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation. The Award is available to youth ages 14 and under who have completed 50 or more hours of volunteer service; to individuals 15 and older who have completed 100 or more hours; and to families or groups who have completed 200 or more hours. For more information about the Award, please visit www.presidentialserviceawards.gov.

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