CANTON – Ohio First Lady Hope Taft today announced the Make a Difference Day Essay Contest at Hartford Middle School in Canton. As a member of the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, Mrs. Taft hopes to encourage children to begin thinking about community service at a young age.

“Make a Difference Day offers a wonderful opportunity for students to get involved in community service and thinking about how they can help others,” Mrs. Taft said. “As a member of the President’s Council, I hope to encourage children to start service at an early age so it will be a priority for them throughout their lives.”

The essay contest will ask Ohio sixth-grade students to submit essays answering the question: “In what ways can your community be improved, and how can you be part of the improvement process?” Ohio teachers and students will plan Make a Difference Day projects based on the selected essay from each classroom school or school district. When schools complete their projects and submit a report to Make a Difference Day Ohio, they will be eligible for state and national recognition awards.

Mrs. Taft is a member of the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, established by President Bush in January of 2003. The mission of the council is to recognize and encourage outstanding volunteer service and civic participation by individuals, schools, and organizations and thereby encourage more such activity, especially on the part of America's youth.

For information about how to get involved in the essay contest, teachers can visit www.serveohio.org, or contact Mrs. Taft’s office at (614) 995-2000.

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