President George W. Bush will meet Sidney Harris when he arrives in Youngstown, Ohio, on Tuesday, May 25, 2004. Harris is an active volunteer at a local hospital who assists patients and comforts their family members and friends.

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 hundreds of individuals around the country, like Harris, who are answering the call to volunteer service.

Every Tuesday morning, Harris visits with patients at the Western Reserve Care System of the Forum Health Center in Youngstown, Ohio. He also serves on the board of Mended Hearts, a national organization that provides services such as support groups, visitation programs, and educational forums for heart patients. In addition, Harris organizes fundraisers each year to help send children with heart problems to summer camp, and to help send nursing students to Youngstown State University.

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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