President George W. Bush will meet Pastor Leo Barbee, Jr. when he arrives in Topeka, Kansas, on Monday, May 17, 2004. Pastor Barbee is an active volunteer in his community as a mentor and chaplain.

The USA Freedom Corps is President Bush’s initiative to engage all Americans in service to their neighbors and their nation by volunteering two years or 4,000 hours over the course of their lifetime. Since January 2002, President Bush has met with more than 290 individuals around the country, like Pastor Barbee, who are answering the call to volunteer service.

Every Tuesday morning, Pastor Barbee and his wife read to a kindergarten student at New York Elementary School in Lawrence, Kansas, as a part of a mentoring program. In addition, Pastor Barbee serves as chaplain for the Lawrence Memorial Hospital, and the University of Kansas basketball and football teams. Each January, Pastor Barbee assists in organizing a four day Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration in Lawrence, Kansas. The celebration consists of gospel concerts, plays, and a banquet that awards scholarships to African-American students.

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 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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