President George W. Bush will meet Robert Perkins upon arrival in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Thursday, October 9, 2003. Perkins, 38, owns three Dunkin’ Donuts stores in Milford and has been an active volunteer for many years.

Earlier this year, President Bush celebrated the first anniversary of the USA Freedom Corps – his initiative to engage all Americans in service to their neighbors and their nation. President Bush is recognizing individuals around the country, like Perkins, who are answering the call to volunteer service.

Perkins is a founder and current president of the Boys and Girls Club chapter in Souhegan Valley, an organization that provides disadvantaged youth with a safe place to learn and grow. Perkins has dedicated countless hours creating and planning fundraising events, encouraging service donations among local businesses and spending time with children. Last year, Perkins joined a community-wide effort to collect goods for American troops overseas and organized a donation of 2,800 pounds of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee from store owners across New Hampshire. Perkins also supports several initiatives in the community, including Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, DARE and fire safety programs, and sponsors youth baseball teams.

President Bush created the USA Freedom Corps office at the White House to foster a culture of service, citizenship and responsibility. Through the USA Freedom Corps, President Bush wants to help every American answer the call to volunteer service by strengthening and expanding service opportunities to protect our homeland, support our communities and extend American compassion around the world. Interested volunteers can find opportunities in their own neighborhoods through the USA Freedom Corps web site at www.usafreedomcorps.gov or by calling 1-877-USA-CORPS.

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