President George W. Bush will present the President’s Volunteer Service Award to Chris Branning, a midshipman at the United States Merchant Marine Academy, when he arrives at the airport in New York, New York, on Monday, June 19, 2006. To thank them for making a difference in the lives of others, President Bush honors local volunteers, called USA Freedom Corps greeters, when he travels throughout the United States. President Bush has met with more than 500 individuals around the country, like Branning, since March 2002.

In 2003 while attending Pine View School in his hometown of Sarasota, Florida, Branning started a chapter of Why Me?, a global relief and awareness agency which provides medical and school supplies to children in Third World countries. Throughout his senior year Branning participated in two trips to Chisec, Guatemala, to deliver supplies to local families. In 2005, while a plebe at the United States Merchant Marine Academy, Branning participated in two relief trips to Ouanaminthe, Haiti, to deliver medical supplies to a local hospital. In addition, he participated in the United States Merchant Marine Academy’s 2005 Tsunami Relief Effort which raised funds to provide medicine for a team of American doctors providing aid in Sri Lanka.

In his January 2002 State of the Union Address, President Bush called on all Americans to make a difference in their communities through volunteer service. He created USA Freedom Corps, an Office of the White House, to strengthen and expand volunteer service. Americans are responding to the President’s Call to Service. Go to www.volunteer.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.volunteerkids.gov for games and ideas designed to show how America's youth are making a difference.

The President's Volunteer Service Award was created at the President’s direction by the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation. 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.

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