President George W. Bush presented the President’s Volunteer Service Award to Daniel Theodore Ling Kent of Carmel, Indiana in a ceremony in the East Room of the White House on May 26, 2005. The ceremony, part of a White House celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, was also attended by President Yudhoyono of Indonesia.

Kent is a 16-year old sophomore honor student at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis. He is the Founder and President of “Senior Connects,” a nonprofit corporation that supplies senior citizens with computer equipment and skills. For several years, Kent taught both seniors and elementary school students how to use computers and the Internet, and one day he realized many seniors lacked the mobility or transportation to come to his classes. When he discovered there were no programs in his area to address this need and that local senior facilities welcomed such a program, Kent founded "Senior Connects." Kent volunteers about 400 hours a year.

The President's Volunteer Service Award was created at the President’s direction by the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation and administered by the Corporation for National & Community Service. 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.

Visit 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.

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