President George W. Bush will meet Marina Partee upon arrival in Louisville, Kentucky, on Thursday, February 26, 2004. Partee has been an active volunteer with the Center for Women and Families for the past three years.

Last month, the USA Freedom Corps – President Bush’s initiative to engage all Americans in service to their neighbors and their nation – celebrated its second anniversary. President Bush is recognizing individuals around the country, like Partee, who are answering the call to volunteer service.

Since 2000, Partee has been an active volunteer with the Center for Women and Families, a nonprofit organization that provides crisis intervention programs for women dealing with domestic violence, sexual assault and economic hardship. Each month, Partee speaks to individuals in her community about overcoming domestic violence, the importance of financial responsibility, and benefits offered through programs at the Center for Women and Families. For the past two years, Partee has volunteered with the Common Wealth Individual Development Account Project, a collaborative initiative between the Center for Women and Families, the Housing Authority and Republic Bank, designed to provide individuals with financial skills, support, and incentives to save money and become financially responsible. Partee regularly speaks to individuals about the importance of financial responsibility and encourages others to attend financial literacy classes that offer valuable information about homeownership, starting a business, continuing education, credit card debt and opening a bank account. Partee also volunteers with the Louisville Asset Building Coalition, where she serves as a marketing ambassador with the Coalition’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program that provides free tax assistance to individuals with low incomes.

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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