President George W. Bush will present the President’s Volunteer Service Award to Betty Haggard when he arrives in Orlando, Florida, on Friday, March 18, 2005. Haggard, 74, is an active volunteer with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.

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 Corps to 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 Haggard, who are answering the call to volunteer service.

Haggard is a Citizens on Patrol volunteer at the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. Through this program, volunteers patrol communities looking for suspicious activities or crimes in progress, assist with traffic control, and aid stranded motorists. Haggard also serves as the Citizens on Patrol volunteer coordinator for the Lake Mary district. In addition, Haggard is a team leader with the local Volunteer Search and Rescue Team, which helps prepare volunteers to find lost or injured individuals and help bring them to safety.

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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