President George W. Bush will present the President’s Volunteer Service Award to Andrew “Woody” Woodcock when he arrives in Montgomery, Alabama, on Thursday, March 10, 2005. Woodcock, 68, is an active volunteer with the Central Alabama Laubach Literacy Council.

President Bush has called on all Americans to volunteer two years or 4,000 hours over the course of their lifetimes, and he created USA Freedom Corpsto help foster a culture of service, citizenship, and responsibility. Since March 2002, President Bush has met with more than 400 individuals around the country, like Woodcock, who are answering the call to volunteer service.

Woodcock has been a volunteer with the Central Alabama Laubach Literacy Council since 1991. He is a certified reading tutor, certified tutor for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), and a tutor trainer. Woodcock has volunteered nearly 7,000 hours helping adults learn to read or improve their reading skills.

In addition, Woodcock has been a board member with the Montgomery County Public Schools Board of Education’s Partners in Business and Education program since 1999. With this program, he tutors elementary school students four days each week during the academic year to help them improve their reading skills.

The President's Volunteer Service Award, an initiative of the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation, is available to Americans of all ages who have demonstrated their dedication to volunteer service. More information about the award is available at www.presidentialserviceawards.gov.

Through USA Freedom Corps, President Bush wants to help every American answer the Call to Service by strengthening and expanding service opportunities. Interested volunteers can find available service opportunities in their communities at www.usafreedomcorps.gov or by calling 1-877-USA-CORPS. For information designed to show elementary and middle school students how they can start making a difference by volunteering, visit www.usafreedomcorpskids.gov.

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