Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of USA Freedom Corps Desiree T. Sayle today joined Ohio First Lady Hope Taft for the Habitat for Humanity Women’s Build at the 151^st Ohio State Fair in Columbus, Ohio.

"I am pleased to join Mrs. Taft and all the volunteers to help another Ohio family realize the dream of homeownership,” Sayle said. “When the President created USA Freedom Corps, he called on every American to dedicate 4,000 hours or two years over the course of their lifetimes in service to others. Americans across the country, including the volunteers here today, are answering that Call to Service."

Sayle and Mrs. Taft, a member of the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, also presented the President’s Volunteer Service Award to three dedicated volunteers from Columbus, Ohio. John Marty received the President’s Call to Service Award for dedicating more than 4,000 hours to service during his lifetime. Robin Leslie and Helen Pestel both received the Bronze Award for volunteering between 100 and 249 hours during the past year.

"I am honored to join Director Sayle in recognizing these individuals who contribute selflessly to improving the lives of others,” Mrs. Taft said. “Volunteering and community service is the heart and soul of our nation and the extraordinary commitment of these three people make them worthy recipients of the President's Volunteer Service Award."

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.