President George W. Bush will meet Patricia Fields upon arrival in Newark, New Jersey, on Monday, December 1, 2003. Fields has been an active volunteer with the School Based Youth Services: Plainfield Teen Parenting Program, Inc. since 1988.

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 Fields, who are answering the call to volunteer service.

For the past 15 years, Fields has volunteered with the School Based Youth Services: Plainfield Teen Parenting Program, Inc., a non-profit organization that helps teenage parents graduate from high school while teaching them how to give their children a healthy start. Fields, an unwed teen mother herself, has a personal connection to the young women she mentors. Each week, the young mothers attend classes to learn about parenting skills, pregnancy and child abuse prevention. The program also offers male mentors and parenting education for young fathers. In addition to her role as a mentor, Fields serves as the President of the Board of Directors and oversees the mentor program and all fundraising activities. Fields is also an active volunteer with New Outlook Pioneers, Community Coordinated Child Care and Shiloh Baptist Church.

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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