President George W. Bush will meet Edward Gilmartin when he arrives in Scranton, Pennsylvania, on Thursday, January 16, 2003. Gilmartin has been a volunteer with Goodwill Industries of Northeastern Pennsylvania for the past 27 years.

In his 2002 State of the Union address, President Bush called on all Americans to dedicate at least two years over their lifetimes in service to their communities, our country and the world. President Bush is recognizing individuals around the country who are answering the call to service and will recognize Gilmartin as example of the dedication to service he is hoping to instill in all Americans through his USA Freedom Corps initiative.

Gilmartin, a Scranton business owner, has volunteered with Goodwill Industries of Northeastern Pennsylvania for the past 27 years. During that time, Gilmartin has served as a member of the board and has worked as a member of the organization's evaluation team, ensuring that the programs and services provided by Goodwill Industries meets the needs of the clients they serve. Gilmartin has also served as a member of the Goodwill finance committee and has volunteered in other areas such as job placement and employment services.

President Bush created the USA Freedom Corps office at the White House to foster an American culture of service, citizenship and responsibility. Through the USA Freedom Corps, President Bush wants to help every American answer the call to 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 information on the USA Freedom Corps at www.usafreedomcorps.gov or by calling 1-877-USA-Corps.

###