President George W. Bush will present the President’s Volunteer Service Award to Naomi Alamar when he arrives at the airport in Avoca, Pennsylvania, on Thursday, October 19, 2006. Alamar is a volunteer with SCOLA Volunteers for Literacy. To thank them for making a difference in the lives of others, President Bush honors a local volunteer, called a USA Freedom Corps Greeter, when he travels throughout the United States. President Bush has met with more than 500 individuals around the country, like Alamar, since March 2002.

Alamar is a tutor with SCOLA Volunteers for Literacy, a non-profit educational agency serving Lackawanna County. During the past 18 years she has volunteered more than 1,700 hours as a tutor for students in the English as a Second Language program. Alamar teaches traditional English language classes and also provides cooking instruction and field trips for her students. She served two years on SCOLA’s Board of Directors and received the Founder’s Award in 2000 in recognition of her outstanding volunteer service. In addition, Alamar is an active volunteer at The Messenger Temple Israel in Scranton.

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. 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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