President George W. Bush will meet Chris Dudley when he arrives in Portland, Oregon, on Friday, August 13, 2004. Dudley, a former player with the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers, created The Dudley Foundation to help children succeed regardless of economic, educational or health liabilities.

President Bush has called on all Americans to volunteer two years or 4,000 hours over the course of their lifetimes, and hecreated USA Freedom Corpsto help foster a culture of service, citizenship, and responsibility. Since March 2002, President Bush has met with more than 300 individuals around the country, like Dudley, who are answering the call to volunteer service.

Created in 1994, The Dudley Foundation is dedicated to supporting diabetes research and helping children with diabetes. This week, Dudley hosted 73 boys and girls with diabetes at his ninth annual basketball camp in Vernonia, Oregon. Dudley was diagnosed with insulin-dependent diabetes as a teenager but overcame the odds and realized his dream of becoming a professional basketball player. Through his community service, he encourages children with diabetes to take care of their health and follow their dreams. Dudleyhas been recognized many times for his community involvement and philanthropy, receiving the NBA’s J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in 1996 and USA Today’s Most Caring Athlete Award in 1997.

USA Freedom Corps has launched “A Call to Summer Service,” an initiative to encourage Americans to spend a part of their summer in volunteer service. Through “A Call to Summer Service,” citizens are reminded that the summer months are an excellent time to answer the President’s Call to Service, strengthen their communities, and extend the compassion and greatness of America. Interested volunteers can find ideas for summer volunteering and information on how to get started at www.usafreedomcorps.gov.

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