President George W. Bush will meet Caroline Hepner when he arrives in New York, New York, on Monday, September 20, 2004. Hepner is an active volunteer with New York Cares, serving as a team leader for the Art Smart program for children at the Urban Family Center Henry Street Settlement on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.

President Bush has called on all Americans to volunteer two years or 4,000 hours over the course of their lifetimes, and he created 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 Hepner, who are answering the call to volunteer service.

Hepner has been a volunteer with New York Cares for the past three years. As team leader with the Art Smart program, Hepner creates art projects, organizes volunteer participation, and leads classes twice a month. The Urban Family Center Henry Street Settlement is a residence for homeless families seeking permanent housing. Hepner has also participated in other New York Cares projects including the annual Spring Clean-Up Day, New York Cares Day, and the Secret Santa Program. In addition, she has helped paint local firehouses and schools and sewed surgical dolls used by local surgeons to describe medical procedures to pediatric patients.

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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