President George W. Bush will present the President’s Volunteer Service Award to Steve Miller when he arrives in Jacksonville, Florida, on Friday, January 14, 2005. Miller, 41, is an active volunteer mentor for the Jacksonville Early College High School (JECHS) program.

President Bush hascalled 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 400 individuals around the country, like Miller, who are answering the call to volunteer service.

Once a week, Steve attends college-level classes with JECHS students, assisting teachers and helping students with reading, comprehension, development of study skills, and test preparation techniques. JECHS helps low-income, first-generation English language learners, and minority students in grades 9 through 12 prepare for and master college-level work. Steve is the chapter president of Phi Theta Kappa, an international honor society for two-year colleges that promotes academics and volunteer service. Through PTK, Steve has participated in fundraising efforts for the Jacksonville Spina Bifida Association and the American Cancer Society. Steve also helped prepare care packages for soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq from December 2003 through December 2004.

The President's Volunteer Service Award, an initiative of the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation, are presented to people of all ages who have demonstrated their dedication to volunteer service. More information about the award is available at www.presidentialserviceawards.gov.

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. For information designed to show elementary and middle school students how they can start making a difference by volunteering,visit www.usafreedomcorpskids.gov.

At the direction of President George W. Bush, USA Freedom Corps is working with former Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton as they lead a nationwide charitable fundraising effort to encourage private donations to the tsunami relief effort. Americans are asked to donate money to organizations listed at www.usafreedomcorps.gov.

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