FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 17, 2004
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The White House - USA Freedom Corps
Contact: Erik Hotmire 202-456-7381 |
President Bush to Recognize Reno Man for Dedication to Volunteer Service |
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President George W. Bush will meet Ron Kelstrup when he arrives in Reno,
Nevada, on Friday, June 18, 2004. Kelstrup, 81, is an active volunteer at the
Ioannis A. Lougaris VA Medical Center.
The USA Freedom Corps is President Bush’s
initiative to engage all Americans in service to their neighbors and their
nation by volunteering two years or 4,000 hours over the course of their
lifetime. Since January 2002, President Bush has met with hundreds of
individuals around the country, like Kelstrup, who are answering the call to
volunteer service.
For the past ten years Kelstrup has volunteered nearly 5,000 hours at the
Ioannis A. Lougaris Medical Center through the Masonic Service Organization’s
hospital visitation program. Twice a week he visits patients in
the transitional care unit accompanying them on walks, running errands, or
sitting and talking to help ease their loneliness. Every other week he
takes six veterans who are confined to wheelchairs to a local mall for lunch and
shopping. He also arranges outings to events such as the Reno Air Show, hot air
balloon races and the circus, and once a month holds a bingo night for 25
patients.
President Bush created the USA Freedom Corps office at the White House to
foster a culture of service, citizenship and responsibility. Through the 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 on the USA Freedom Corps at
www.usafreedomcorps.gov or by
calling 1-877-USA-CORPS.
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