President George W. Bush will meet Annie Kaigler when he arrives in Detroit, Michigan, on Monday, August 30, 2004. Kaigler, 74, is an active volunteer with Catholic Social Services of Wayne County through the Foster Grandparent program.

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 Kaigler, who are answering the call to volunteer service.

Kaigler has volunteered with the Catholic Social Services of Wayne County for the past three years. Also known as “Grandma Kaigler,” she spends 20 hours a week at Children’s Home of Detroit mentoring young girls who have experienced abuse. The Foster Grandparent program, part of Senior Corps, provides volunteer opportunities for seniors over age 60 who are interested in providing supportive care and assistance to children. Foster Grandparents serve as mentors, tutors, and caregivers for at-risk children and youth with special needs through a variety of community organizations, including schools, hospitals, drug treatment facilities, correctional institutions, and Head Start and day-care centers.

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 summer is 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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