President George W. Bush will present the President’s Volunteer Service Award to Theo Richards when he arrives in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Wednesday, March 8, 2006. Richards, 20, is a volunteer with City Year Louisiana. To thank them for making a difference in the lives of others, President Bush has met with more than 475 individuals around the country, like Richards, since March 2002.

Richards is enrolled at Southern University in Baton Rouge, but is putting his education on hold to serve one year with City Year Louisiana. City Year, a national youth service organization and aprogram of the AmeriCorps national service network, unites young people ages 17-24 for a year of community service and leadership development. City YearLouisiana is comprised of 50 young people from across the United States who are helping to rebuild Louisiana and serve the needs of children and families impacted by the hurricanes. Richards works with displaced students and facultyat Scotlandville Middle School in Baton Rouge. He assists teachers and helps kindergarten and first grade studentswith academic tutoring and mentoring.Through his service with City Year, Richards works on community service projects in New Orleans such as building playgrounds and cleaning schools. He is also developing evening activities for a teen center serving displaced teenagers in Renaissance Village in Baker, Louisiana.

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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