President George W. Bush will meet Jennie Sue Murdock, a volunteer who has worked with community service organizations in the Roanoke Valley for more than three decades. Upon his arrival in Roanoke, Virginia tomorrow, the President will recognize Murdock as an example of the lifetime dedication to service he is hoping to instill in all Americans.

In his State of the Union address, President Bush called on all Americans to dedicate at least two years of their lives—the equivalent of 4,000 hours—in service to their communities, our country and the world. President Bush is recognizing men and women from around the country who are answering the call to service as part of his USA Freedom Corps initiative.

Murdock has a long professional and volunteer history with community service organizations. She has served as the executive director of the local YWCA, and has directed the Volunteer Action Center at the Council of Community Services, which offers information and referral services to individuals interested in volunteering in their Virginia communities.

Since leaving the Volunteer Action Center more than a decade ago, Murdock has tutored adults through Literacy Volunteers of America and has taught English as a second language through the Refugee and Immigration Services organization. Since 1970, Murdock has worked as a volunteer with the Roanoke Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross. She has provided assistance to the victims of Hurricane Fran (1996), floods in West Virginia (1997), and Hurricane George (1998). After the terrorist attack on September 11th, she spent time working in New York City feeding and caring for disaster workers and victims' families.

President Bush created the USA Freedom Corps office at the White House to foster an American culture of service, citizenship and responsibility. Through the USA Freedom Corps, President Bush wants to help every American answer the call to service by strengthening and expanding service opportunities to protect our homeland, support our communities and extend American compassion around the world. Interested volunteers can find information on the USA Freedom Corps at www.usafreedomcorps.gov or by calling 1-877-USA-Corps.

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