President George W. Bush will meet Jamie Gaston when he arrives in Hobbs, New Mexico, on Monday, October 11, 2004. Gaston, 27, is an active volunteer with the Young Men and Women Mentoring Program at Will Rogers Elementary School in Hobbs.

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 Gaston, who are answering the call to volunteer service.

The goal of the Young Men and Women Mentoring Program is to pair students with caring adults who are committed to their social and academic progress. A volunteer mentor for three years, Gaston is currently mentoring a fifth-grade boy. Gaston and the student set educational and personal goals and meet once a week throughout the year during the student's lunch hour. In addition, Gaston is a volunteer at Vista Point Baptist Church where he leads a Sunday school class for singles.

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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