Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of USA Freedom Corps Desiree T. Sayle delivered remarks at Tuesday's national kick-off event for the 20th Annual Keep America Beautiful's Great American Cleanup at Times Square Visitors Center in New York, New York. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg was also in attendance and received Keep America Beautiful's recognition award, and actor Tony Danza helped lead the kickoff festivities by leading a group of young Keep America Beautiful volunteers in a rendition of "New York, New York."

As part of the event, Director Sayle presented the President's Volunteer Service Award to Joshua Peters of Brooklyn, New York. Peters regularly mentors younger children through the Genesis Homes programs, including the U.S. Department of Justice’s Weed and Seed program. He also works with community improvement projects that are “greening-up” local neighborhoods, such as working with the parks department to create a local success garden.

The Great American Cleanup, the nation's largest annual community improvement program, is Keep America Beautiful's signature event. More than 2.3 million people will be volunteering 7 million hours to improve more than 15,000 communities during 30,000 events scheduled from March until May.

For the third consecutive year, President George W. Bush is serving as Honorary Chair of the Great American Cleanup. This year, Mrs. Laura Bush joins him as an Honorary Chair.

Keep America Beautiful, Inc., established in 1953, is the nation's largest volunteer-based community action and education organization. This national nonprofit forms public-private partnerships and programs that engage individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community environments. The Great American Cleanup™ is one of its many programs that encourage people to care for communities through volunteer participation. For more information, visit www.kab.org.

The President's Volunteer Service Award, an initiative of the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation, is available to Americans of all ages who have demonstrated their dedication to volunteer service. More information about the award is available at www.presidentialserviceawards.gov.

Through USA Freedom Corps, President Bush wants to help every American answer the Call to Service by strengthening and expanding service opportunities. Interested volunteers can find available service opportunities in their communities at www.usafreedomcorps.gov or by calling 1-877-USA-CORPS. For information designed to show elementary and middle school students how they can start making a difference by volunteering, visit www.usafreedomcorpskids.gov.

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