President George W. Bush will present the President’s Volunteer Service Award to Lou Parochelli when he arrives in Chicago, Illinois, on Monday, January 7, 2008.  Parochelli is a volunteer with the United Service Organizations of Illinois.  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 Parochelli, since March 2002.

Parochelli has been a volunteer with the United Service Organizations of Illinois since April 2005.  Each week he volunteers at the USO Home Away From Home Center located at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport where he provides information, assistance, and resources to service members visiting the facility.  Parochelli also serves on the Welcome Home team that greets troops arriving at O’Hare International Airport from duty overseas and briefs them on USO services and programs.  One night per week Parochelli serves on the overnight volunteer squad which cares for service members who are stranded during their travels.  Parochelli has logged more than 1,200 hours of volunteer service and assisted more than 4,500 military personnel and their families.

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.

###