President George W. Bush will meet Kareen Wilkinson when he arrives in Boston, Massachusetts, on Thursday, March 25, 2004. Since August 2003, Wilkinson has served as an AmeriCorps member with City Year Boston.

Earlier this year, the USA Freedom Corps – President Bush’s initiative to engage all Americans in service to their neighbors and their nation by volunteering two years or 4,000 hours – celebrated its second anniversary. Since January 2002, President Bush has met with more than 260 individuals around the country, like Wilkinson, who are answering the call to volunteer service.

Looking for ways to volunteer after her college graduation, Wilkinson became an AmeriCorps member with City Year Boston, a nonprofit organization that engages young people in a year of full-time community service opportunities. Through the Young Heroes department at City Year, Wilkinson mentors 6th to 8th grade students, helping them become responsible individuals and learn important values including compassion, cooperation and commitment. Each Saturday, Wilkinson and her students participate in a volunteer service activity to address an important community need.

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 website at www.usafreedomcorps.gov or by calling 1-877-USA-CORPS.

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