President George W. Bush will meet Shannon Hickey when he arrives in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday, September 22, 2004. Hickey, 14, founded Mychal’s Message, an outreach program to the homeless in Philadelphia, New York City, and Lancaster. The charity is named in memory of Father Mychal Judge, the New York City Fire Department chaplain who died on September 11, 2001.

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 Hickey, who are answering the call to volunteer service.

Hickey started Mychal’s Message in January 2002, and named the outreach after Father Judge, who was supportive of Hickey’s family when she received a liver transplant as an infant. Their projects include Socks for the Homeless, a sneaker outreach program called Soles for Souls, a disposable diaper collection called Blessed Bloomers, and a Christmas stocking outreach called Mikie’s Gift. Hickey created the organization to carry on Father Judge’s mission of meeting the needs of the homeless and sharing a message of unconditional love.

Through 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 at www.usafreedomcorps.gov or by calling 1-877-USA-CORPS.

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