June 12, 2007
HP-453

Secretary Paulson Recognizes Individuals for Dedication to Volunteer Service

Atlanta, GA- Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr. presented the President's Volunteer Service Award to Charles Bruce, Andrea Eva and Dr. Michael Petelle as part of the USA Freedom Corps Presidential Volunteer Service Recognition Program today in Atlanta, Georgia. Both Bruce and Eva have served countless hours at Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites while Dr. Petelle has dedicated his time to improving the environment.

Charles Bruce has been a volunteer with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program since 1998.  Under his leadership over the past nine years, thousands of low-income individuals have received free tax preparation and e-file services. Bruce is currently the Site Coordinator for one of the premiere sites in Metro-Atlanta – Clarkston Library.  Andrea Eva serves as the Community Affair Committee Director of the National Association of Black Accountants, which adopted the Westend Mall Volunteer Income Tax Assistance site as a community service project. She took the lead in training all new preparers for the site, developed a refresher class for the professionals and increased the volunteer lifeline. Dr. Michael Petelle has spent his life involved in improving the environment, going back to high school when he single-handedly planted 3600 trees to forest a pasture. Petelle has sponsored the environmental club SAVE at North Cobb High School for 16 years where they recycle, plant trees, organize clean-ups and monitor water quality in local lakes and streams.  Each award recipient has individually dedicated more than 4,000 hours of volunteer service over their lifetime.

In his January 2002 State of the Union Address, President Bush called on all Americans to make a difference in their communities through volunteer service. He created USA Freedom Corps, an Office of the White House, to strengthen and expand volunteer service. Americans are responding to the President's Call to Service. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 61 million Americans volunteered in 2006. Go to www.volunteer.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.volunteerkids.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 .