President George W. Bush will present the President’s Volunteer Service Award to Amargeet Singh, 16, when he arrives at the airport in New Haven, Connecticut, on Wednesday, April 5, 2006. Singh, a junior at Crosby High School, is a volunteer with the Youth Health Service Corps. To thank them for making a difference in the lives of others, President Bush has met with more than 480 individuals around the country, like Singh, since March 2002.

Singh is a volunteer with the Youth Health Service Corps, a service learning program for Connecticut high school students who are interested in pursuing a career in healthcare. Since joining the corps in January 2005, Singh has volunteered more than 100 hours. He works every Saturday at the StayWell Health Center in the adult and pediatric clinics. In addition to helping with administrative duties, Singh created promotional materials for the clinic’s mobile dental program and designed a poster on obesity prevention for teens. During the summer of 2005, Singh volunteered at the Migrant Farm Worker Clinic, a program coordinated by medical students at the University of Connecticut. Singh assisted with the administration of patient intake surveys and blood pressure tests.

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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