President George W. Bush will present the President’s Volunteer Service Award to Janice Bozardt when he arrives in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Friday, July 15, 2005. Bozardt is a volunteer at Moore’s Chapel United Methodist Church, Holy Angels, and Power of the Past Tractor Club. To thank them for making a difference in the lives of others, President Bush has met with more than 400 individuals around the country, like Bozardt, since March 2002.

Bozardt has been a volunteer at Moore’s Chapel United Methodist Church in Charlotte for 40 years. She leads a team of volunteers in the preparation and delivery of meals for shut-ins and bereaved families within the church, as well as the local community. Bozardt is the recipient of the United Methodist Church Laity Award for outstanding services rendered in the church and the community. In addition, Bozardt assists at Holy Angels, a home for severely handicapped infants, children, and adults in Belmont, North Carolina. Each week she visits the facility to care for her granddaughter and to sing, tell stories, and interact with the other residents. Bozardt also volunteers with Power of the Past Tractor Club, an organization that restores old tractors to raise money for charity. The club has raised more than $100,000 to enhance the facilities at Holy Angels.

In his January 2002 State of the Union Address, President Bush called on every American to dedicate two years or 4,000 hours over the course of their lives to volunteer service. To help more Americans engage in volunteer service, he created USA Freedom Corps, an Office of the White House charged with strengthening and expanding volunteer service. Americans are responding to the President’s Call to Service. Studies show that approximately 5 million more Americans are volunteering today than just three years ago. Go to www.usafreedomcorps.gov or call 1-877-USA-CORPS to find an existing volunteer service opportunity in your area or to find more information about service programs, including national service programs such as the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and Citizen Corps. USA Freedom Corps is also highlighting youth volunteer service. Visit www.usafreedomcorpskids.gov for games and ideas designed to show how America's youth are making a difference.

The President's Volunteer Service Award was created at the President’s direction by the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation. The Award is available to youth ages 14 and under who have completed 50 or more hours of volunteer service; to individuals 15 and older who have completed 100 or more hours; and to families or groups who have completed 200 or more hours. For more information about the Award, please visit www.presidentialserviceawards.gov.

###