President George W. Bush presented the President’s Volunteer Service Award to Joann Yoon of Atlanta, Georgia in a ceremony in the East Room of the White House on May 26, 2005. The ceremony, part of a White House celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, was also attended by President Yudhoyono of Indonesia.

Yoon volunteers at My House, an emergency shelter for medically fragile babies. She has been a volunteer three hours per week for the past four years. My House is a foster care center for babies who are medically fragile due to deprivation, abuse, or neglect.

The first time Yoon volunteered at My House, she went home and cried because she was sad to see so many suffering children, from newborns to three-year olds. But she was also uplifted by the interaction between the children and the staff and volunteers. Each week, Yoon plays with the children, gives them attention, and makes sure they feel cared for. Yoon is fulfilled by her volunteer service at My House because she is able to impact the children at a point in their lives when there is still so much hope and potential for their futures despite the backgrounds from which they have come.

The President's Volunteer Service Award was created at the President’s direction by the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation and administered by the Corporation for National & Community Service. 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.

Visit www.usafreedomcorps.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.usafreedomcorpskids.gov for games and ideas designed to show how America's youth are making a difference.

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