President George W. Bush will present the President’s Volunteer Service Award to Bernie Krane when he arrives in Seattle, Washington, on Monday, August, 27, 2007.  Krane is a volunteer with the Bellevue Police Department.  To thank them for making a difference in the lives of others, President Bush honors a local volunteer when he travels throughout the United States.  He has met with more than 600 volunteers, like Krane, since March 2002.

Krane has been a volunteer with the Bellevue Police Department for 12 years and has logged nearly 3,000 hours of service.  In 2007, the Bellevue Police Department received an International Association of Chiefs of Police Award for its outstanding volunteer program that utilizes citizens to perform administrative and office support services in nearly every sector of the department.  Krane works as a Community Station Assistant helping citizens with questions or concerns.  He helped organize and open two Community Stations and recruits and trains volunteers.  For eight years Krane has helped organize the annual National Night Out Against Crime, a program that helps strengthen the community by connecting citizens with members of the police and fire departments, local service agencies, and all branches of the military.  In 2006, this event received excellence awards from the National Association of Town Watch and the Washington State Crime Prevention Association.

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. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 61 million Americans volunteered in 2006. 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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