President George W. Bush will meet Ophelia Chaffino when he arrives in Las Cruces, New Mexico tomorrow, Saturday, August 24, 2002. Chaffino tutors 4th and 5th grade students as a volunteer with the Foster Grandparents program.

In his State of the Union address, President Bush called on all Americans to dedicate at least two years of their lives—the equivalent of 4,000 hours—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 Chaffino as an example of the dedication to service he is hoping to instill in all Americans through his USA Freedom Corps initiative.

For the past 12 years, Chaffino has served as a Foster Grandparent at a local elementary school where she tutors 4th and 5th grades students. Chaffino also volunteers with the Catholic Daughters of America where she assists senior citizens with daily activities such as providing transportation to medical appointments.

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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