President George W. Bush will present the President’s Volunteer Service Award to Linda Cesario when he arrives in Chicago, Illinois, on Wednesday, August 10, 2005. Cesario is an adult literacy volunteer through the Volunteer Center of Northwest Suburban Chicago. To thank them for making a difference in the lives of others, President Bush has met with more than 400 individuals around the country, like Cesario since March 2002.

Cesario has been a full-time adult literacy tutor through the Volunteer Center of Northwest Suburban Chicago for more than five years. She currently tutors 17 students from eight different countries through the Township High School District 214’s Read to Learn for a Brighter Future Program and the Arlington Heights Memorial Library Literacy Office. Cesario also volunteers as a Reading Room librarian at the Arlington Heights Senior Center assisting senior citizens in finding books and other materials. As a member of the Speaker’s Bureau for The Volunteer Center of Northwest Suburban Chicago and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, Cesario speaks to community organizations about the importance of volunteering.

In his January 2002 State of the Union Address, President Bush called on every American to dedicate two years or 4,000 hours over the course of their lives to volunteer service.To help more Americans engage in volunteer service, he created USA Freedom Corps, an Office of the White House charged with strengthening and expanding volunteer service. Americans are responding to the President’s Call to Service. Studies show that approximately 5 million more Americans are volunteering today than just three years ago. Go to http://www.usafreedomcorps.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 http://www.usafreedomcorpskids.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 http://www.presidentialserviceawards.gov.

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