President George W. Bush will meet Lauren Simkulak upon arrival in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on Thursday, February 12, 2004. Simkulak, 18, volunteers each week at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Children’s Hospital.

Last month, the USA Freedom Corps – President Bush’s initiative to engage all Americans in service to their neighbors and their nation – celebrated its second anniversary. President Bush is recognizing individuals around the country, like Simkulak, who are answering the call to volunteer service.

Simkulak, a senior at Central Dauphin High School, volunteers each Saturday at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Children’s Hospital, reading books, playing games and helping young patients with arts and crafts projects. Since 2001, Simkulak has helped the Children’s Hospital by volunteering with the Four Diamonds Fund, an organization that provides financial assistance to children being treated for pediatric cancer at the hospital. Since 1993, Central Dauphin High School has held a 12-hour dance marathon each year, where students stay on their feet for 12 hours and participate in activities to help raise money for the Four Diamonds Fund. In 2003, Simkulak served as one of three senior chairpersons for Central Dauphin’s Four Diamonds Mini-thon Committee, helping to organize the event. More than 300 students at the high school participated in the mini-thon this past November, raising over $60,000. From 1997 to 2001, Simkulak also volunteered at the Jewish Home of Greater Harrisburg, a retirement home for seniors, where she visited with residents and joined them for special events.

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 volunteer 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 opportunities in their own neighborhoods through the USA Freedom Corps web site at www.usafreedomcorps.gov or by calling 1-877-USA-CORPS.

###