President George W. Bush will present the President’s Volunteer Service Award to Eileen Hadbavny when he arrives in Charleston, South Carolina, on Friday, October 10, 2008.  Hadbavny is a volunteer with the Carolina Lowcountry Chapter of the American Red Cross.  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.  He has met with more than 650 volunteers, like Hadbavny, since March 2002.

Hadbavny has been an American Red Cross Volunteer for 20 years both in the Montgomery-Floyd Chapter in Blacksburg, Virginia, and since 2003 in the Carolina Lowcountry Chapter where she has logged more than 7,000 volunteer hours.  Hadbavny is a nationally registered American Red Cross nurse and serves as the Chapter Health Services Lead where she ensures volunteers are properly trained in Disaster Health Services. She serves as the Health Services Representative for the Disaster Action Team and is on emergency call year-round. In addition, Hadbavny is the Chairman of the Services to the Armed Forces and International Services Committee and provides annual deployment and hurricane briefings to military members and their families. In recognition of her volunteer service, Hadbavny has received the American Red Cross Clara Barton Award for Meritorious Volunteer Leadership, the International Services Volunteer Award, and the Armed Forces Emergency Services-International Service Award. 

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.

###