First Lady Laura Bush will present the President’s Volunteer Service Award, on behalf of President George W. Bush, to Denis Cranford when Mrs. Bush arrives in Fort Worth, Texas, on Tuesday, September 16, 2008.  Cranford is a volunteer with Camp Fire USA First Texas Council.  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 Cranford, since March 2002.

As a volunteer with Camp Fire USA First Texas Council, Cranford has served for 15 years as the Camp Director for Camp El Tesoro de la Vida, a weeklong camp for children who are dealing with the passing of a loved one.  The camp features traditional camping activities combined with specialized programs to help kids through the grieving process.  Cranford recruits volunteers to coordinate and facilitate the camp, plans activities, secures supplies, and hosts fundraisers for camp scholarships.  During his tenure as a volunteer, more than 1,500 grieving children have had the opportunity to attend Camp de la Vida.

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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