President George W. Bush will present the President’s Volunteer Service Award to Alex Robinson when he arrives in Wichita, Kansas, on Friday, June 15, 2007.  Robinson is a volunteer with the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Kansas.  To thank them for making a difference in the lives of others, President Bush honors a local volunteer when he travels throughout the United States.  President Bush has met with more than 575 individuals like Robinson since March 2002.

Robinson has been a volunteer with the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Kansas for 12 years and has logged more than 17,000 hours of volunteer service.  He has been a basketball coach, field trip chaperone and mentor.  Ten years ago Robinson was matched with an 8 year-old boy as his Club Buddy.  They met twice per week for academics, sporting events, and mentoring.  Robinson’s Club Buddy graduated from high school this year and received a full scholarship to college.  In addition, Robinson has mentored high school students for 20 years, and is a volunteer with the Dellrose United Methodist Church, where he helped develop the Food Bank Ministry, an outreach program to feed the homeless.

In his January 2002 State of the Union Address, President Bush called on all Americans to make a difference in their communities through volunteer service. He created USA Freedom Corps, an Office of the White House, to strengthen and expand volunteer service. Americans are responding to the President’s Call to Service. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 61 million Americans volunteered in 2006. Go to www.volunteer.gov or call 1-877-USA-CORPS to find an existing volunteer service opportunity in your area or to find more information about service programs, including national service programs such as the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and Citizen Corps. USA Freedom Corps is also highlighting youth volunteer service. Visit www.volunteerkids.gov for games and ideas designed to show how America's youth are making a difference.

The President's Volunteer Service Award was created at the President’s direction by the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation. The Award is available to youth ages 14 and under who have completed 50 or more hours of volunteer service; to individuals 15 and older who have completed 100 or more hours; and to families or groups who have completed 200 or more hours. For more information about the Award, please visit www.presidentialserviceawards.gov.

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