President George W. Bush will meet Cheryl Hornung when he arrives in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on Friday, October 1, 2004. Hornung founded Caitlin’s Smiles in March, 2004, to help lift the spirits of children facing serious illnesses.

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 Hornung, who are answering the call to volunteer service.

Caitlin’s Smiles’ volunteers create arts and crafts kits, called Smiley Bags, and deliver them to pediatric units in ten hospitals throughout central Pennsylvania. The Smiley Bags include creative arts activities such as drawing, writing, and sculpting. They are distributed by hospital staff to children awaiting care. Caitlin’s Smiles also offers patients a pen-pal program in which volunteers exchange cards and letters with the children. This program was inspired by Hornung’s daughter, Caitlin, who lost her battle with cancer four years ago.

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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