Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of USA Freedom Corps Desiree T. Sayle today welcomed The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) as a participating organization with Volunteers for Prosperity, an initiative launched by President George W. Bush to encourage skilled American professionals to support U.S. efforts for global health and economic growth.

"We appreciate the willingness of the NCGA to join the efforts of Volunteers for Prosperity in helping citizens of developing countries," Sayle said. "In doing so, they are answering the President’s Call to Service for all Americans to help a neighbor in need and extend American compassion around the world."

A Presidential initiative coordinated by USA Freedom Corps, Volunteers for Prosperity is administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development, and provides opportunities for highly-skilled American professionals in a variety of fields to volunteer for a flexible term in developing countries. Volunteers work under the direction of private volunteer organizations in activities that support the U.S. government’s agenda for global health and prosperity. More than 130 organizations have joined the Volunteers for Prosperity network since it was created by President Bush in September 2003.

Sayle welcomed NCGA chairman Fred Yoder to the White House office of USA Freedom Corps today to mark his association’s participation with Volunteers for Prosperity. Through this arrangement, NCGA members will share the benefits of advancements in agricultural science and biotechnology with the developing world. NCGA will also be a certifying organization for members who volunteer overseas, verifying their service, and sponsoring them to receive the President's Volunteer Service Award.

"NCGA looks forward to building a strong relationship with Volunteers for Prosperity," Yoder said. "We will encourage farmers and others involved in NCGA to answer the President’s Call to Service by going abroad to assist growers in developing countries in improving their practices. Reducing global hunger and poverty not only is a moral obligation for those with the capacity to help, but it also helps the donors themselves by promoting international security and the growth of markets and reciprocal trade."

USA Freedom Corps, a White House office, was created by President Bush to strengthen and expand service opportunities and to encourage Americans to dedicate two years or 4,000 hours over the course of their lifetimes to volunteer service. USA Freedom Corps has launched “A Call to Summer Service,” an initiative to encourage Americans to spend a part of their summer in volunteer service. Interested volunteers can find ideas for summer volunteering and information on how to get started at www.usafreedomcorps.gov.

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