Washington, DC – The President's Council on Service and Civic Participation will honor youth volunteers for their service to America on Capitol Hill – in the Gold Room, 2168, of Rayburn House Office Building – from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, October 12, at its semiannual meeting in Washington, DC.

Three new Council Members will be sworn in at the meeting: Kelly Perdew, managing director of Angel-Led Venture Partners and second season winner of “The Apprentice” on NBC-TV; Danny Wuerffel, executive director of Desire Street Ministries and former quarterback of the New Orleans Saints; and Janine Turner, an actor, writer, and director.

They will join other civic-minded personalities tapped by President Bush earlier this year to serve as “ambassadors of service,” including actor Stephen Baldwin, former Washington Redskins star Darrell Green, and political commentator Cokie Roberts.

The Council will hear from a panel of leaders in the youth service movement about strategies to grow volunteering in America, particularly among young people. Panelists include Kelita Bak of Camp Fire USA, Kenny Holdsman of the Academy for Educational Development, and Kirsten Lodal from the National Student Partnership.

The following members are scheduled to attend the Thursday meeting:

• Stephen Baldwin, Actor
• Jean Case, Council Chair and President of The Case Foundation
• Ray Chambers, Philanthropist and President Amelior Foundation
• Evern Cooper Epps, President UPS Foundation and Vice President of UPS Corporate Relations
• Darrell Green, Former Washington Redskin and Community Leader
• Mary Jo Myers, wife of the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
• Michelle Nunn, President and CEO Hands On Network
• Kelly Perdew, Managing Director, Angel-Led Venture Partners and second season winner of “The Apprentice” on NBC
• Cokie Roberts, Political Commentator, ABC News
• Wendy Spencer, Executive Director, Volunteer Florida!
• Roxanne Spillett, President Boys and Girls Clubs of America
• Hope Taft, First Lady of Ohio
• Chuck Turlinski, CEO of the The Limited, a division of Limited Brands
• Janine Turner, Actor, Writer and Director
• Danny Wuerffel, Executive Director, Desire Street Ministries and former quarterback of the New Orleans Saints

Agenda for Public Meeting

2:00 – 2:10 p.m.

Opening Remarks and Welcome from Council Chair

2:10 – 2:25 p.m.

Swearing-in Ceremony of new Council Members and Remarks from Administration
New Council Members: Kelly Perdew, Danny Wuerffel, Janine Turner

2:25 – 2:35 p.m.

Welcome from Director USA Freedom Corps Desiree Sayle and Report on Activities

2:35 – 3:05 p.m.

Voices from the Field – Panelists Discuss Young People Engaged in Service and Civic Engagement Through School and Community-Based Programs
Kelita Bak – Vice President Government Relations, Campfire USA
Kristen Lodal – Co-Founder and President, National Student Partnership
Kenny Holdsman – Senior Program Officer, Academy for Educational Development

3:05 – 3:15 p.m.

Three Leadership Organizations Honored with the 2006 Awards of Excellence for the President’s Volunteer Service Award

3:15 – 3:25 p.m.

Reading of the Council Gulf Coast Resolution and Vote

3:25 – 3:30 p.m.

Closing Remarks and Adjournment

The 25-member President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation was given a charge by President Bush to promote an ethic of service and to recognize the millions of Americans who are giving back to their communities through generous acts of service. To date, more than 16,500 organizations are part of the Council’s network, and together they have honored nearly 500,000 of America’s volunteers with the President’s Volunteer Service Award. Administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, together with the USA Freedom Corps, the Council brings together leaders from the worlds of business, entertainment, sports, education, government, nonprofits, and the media to promote their efforts. To learn more about the Council, its members, and the President’s Volunteer Service Award Program please visit http://www.usafreedomcorps.gov/council.

###