President George W. Bush will meet Dana Karcher upon arrival in Bakersfield, California, on Thursday, March 4, 2004. Karcher has been an active volunteer with Keep Bakersfield Beautiful since 2001.

Earlier this year, 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 Karcher, who are answering the call to volunteer service.

Karcher is an active volunteer with Keep Bakersfield Beautiful, a nonprofit organization dedicated to engaging individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community environment.

For the past three years, Karcher has served as chair of Keep Bakersfield Beautiful’s “Great American Clean-Up,” an annual event where volunteers clear litter and graffiti in an effort to beautify their city. Last year, more than 2,200 Bakersfield residents volunteered on this day of service, which gathered more volunteers than any other Great American Cleanup event across the country. Throughout the year, Karcher visits schools, faith-based and community-serving organizations to help educate the public about the importance of beautification efforts and litter clean-up.

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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