President George W. Bush will present the President’s Volunteer Service Award to Kennedy Kulish, 10, when he arrives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday, October, 3, 2007. Kulish, a fifth-grader at Hambright Elementary School, is the founder of the youth service project, Kisses for Kaeden. 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 Kulish, since March 2002.

In 2003, Kulish started Kisses for Kaeden to raise money for medical research and to benefit children in need. This effort was inspired by her brother, Kaeden, who was born with a hole in his heart and had to undergo three operations before his first birthday. Kulish enlisted the help of other youth volunteers called, “Little Kisses” and organized bake sales, lemonade stands and gift auctions. During the past four years Kulish and her team have logged more than 2,100 hours of volunteer service and have raised more than $48,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the American Heart Association and the Children’s Miracle Network. In addition, Kulish has organized other volunteer campaigns including collecting teddy bears for the Lancaster City Police Department for distribution to children in needand a toy collection project for children at a local shelter. Kulish has also been an active volunteer for four yearswith theDay of Caring, an annualcommunity service outreach program sponsored by theUnited Way of Lancaster County.

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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