President George W. Bush will meet Larry, Linda and Eric Swartz when he arrives in Springfield, Illinois, on Sunday, November 3. The Swartz family is a supporter of the Special Olympics.

In his State of the Union address, President Bush called on all Americans to dedicate at least two years over their lifetimes to 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 the Swartz family as an example of the dedication to service he is hoping to instill in all Americans through his USA Freedom Corps initiative.

The Swartz family became involved with Special Olympics ten years ago when son Eric began competing. Larry and Linda volunteer at competitions and serve with Eric on the local Special Olympics Committee. Larry also volunteers as an assistant swim coach and assists with cross country skiing. Linda helps with bowling tournaments and Eric serves as an athlete spokesperson for the organization.

In addition to their work with Special Olympics, Larry and Eric have also volunteered with the Boy Scouts. Linda has helped children at risk of abuse through the Sangamon County Committee for Children where she has volunteered for the past 15 years.

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.

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