FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, October 07, 2005
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The White House - USA Freedom Corps
Contact: Press Office 202-456-7381 |
President Bush Recognizes Albuquerque Woman for Dedication to Volunteer Service |
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President George W. Bush presented the President’s Volunteer Service Award to Maria Hines of Albuquerque, New Mexico in a ceremony in the East Room of the White House on October 7, 2005. The ceremony, part of a White House celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, was also attended by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez.
Hines has been a volunteer in the Albuquerque school system for 26 years. Five years ago she began volunteering with the parent mentor group, Enlace (Engaging Latino Communities for Education). Hines founded the ENLACE Family Centers inside local schools to help Latino families become involved with the school system and to help raise the educational expectations for their children. She was responsible for bringing more than 350 full-time volunteers into Albuquerque public schools in 2004. Hines also developed the Knock and Talk drop-out prevention program in which parents visit the homes of truant students and encourage them to stay in school.
The President's Volunteer Service Award, an initiative of the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, was established by President Bush in January of 2003 to recognize individuals and organizations that have made a sustained commitment to volunteer service. To date, more than 11,000 organizations have honored 293,000 individuals and groups with this award. To find out more about the President’s Volunteer Service Award, or how your organization can become a certifying organization, visit www.presidentialserviceawards.gov.
Americans can learn more about volunteer opportunities in their community or hurricane-related opportunities in the Gulf Coast by visiting www.usafreedomcorps.gov or calling 1-877-USA-CORPS. USA Freedom Corps, an office at the White House, was created by President Bush in 2002 to help Americans serve a cause greater than themselves. USA Freedom Corps helps Americans answer that call as they promote and expand volunteer service by supporting Federal service programs, serving as a resource for non-profits, recognizing volunteers, and helping to connect individuals with volunteer organizations in their communities.
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