On his arrival in Newark, New Jersey on Monday, President George W. Bush will meet three Northern Highlands Regional High School students who are actively involved in promoting the PresidentÕs call to volunteer service. 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. His goal is to give Americans a way to respond to the evil of terrorism with acts of compassion. President Bush is recognizing individuals around the country who are answering the call to service, and will recognize these students as an example of the dedication to service he is hoping to instill in all Americans through his USA Freedom Corps initiative.

Following the President's State of the Union address, Joanna Glick, the younger sister of Jeremy Glick, one of the heroes aboard United Flight 93 on September 11, and her classmates initiated a new program at their school to encourage their fellow students to engage in volunteer service. Glick, her classmates, and teachers, created the concept of a "Teen Freedom Corps Club" that could be started at any high school across the country to promote and coordinate volunteer opportunities. Classmates Kelly Bianco and Allison Cohen will join Glick in meeting the President.

Northern Highlands Regional High School is the founding chapter of the club, with students participating in variety of activities including peer leadership, Big Brothers Big Sisters, a project to raise money for needy children in Guatemala, a Cinderella Project to deliver prom dresses to students with financial needs, and the First Vote program to educate and register 18 year olds to vote. Next fall students will take on a new "Caring Crew" project to support families of September 11 victims. Caring Crew will perform ho usehold tasks that have become difficult because of the loss of a family member. Students will also help military families with members deployed in other parts of the country or the world.

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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