President George W. Bush will meet Pearl Lam Bergad when he arrives in Minneapolis tomorrow. Bergad, who serves as executive director of Chamber Music Society of Minnesota, has volunteered with a number of organizations to raise awareness of Asian culture in the Minneapolis community and is actively involved in the classical music community in Minneapolis.

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 individuals around the country who are answering the call to service, and will recognize Bergad as an example of the dedication to service he is hoping to instill in all Americans through his USA Freedom Corps initiative.

Bergad began volunteering at her childrenÕs school and expanded her service from there. Through the Chamber Music Society of Minneapolis, where she served as a volunteer before being hired as its director, and the Chinese Min Hua Chorus, where she serves as its accompanist, she works to raise awareness of Asian culture through music. She has also served on the planning committee of the annual St. Paul Asian Pacific Heritage Festival and sits on the board of the Chinese Senior CitizenÕs Society.

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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