President George W. Bush will meet Katheryn Schindler when he arrives in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Tuesday, December 3, 2002. Schindler, a junior at Tulane University, volunteers as a mentor and tutor with the Community Action Council of Tulane University Students (CACTUS).

In his State of the Union address, President Bush called on all Americans to dedicate at least two years over their lifetime in service to their communities, our country and the world. President Bush is recognizing individuals around the country who are answering the call to service and will recognize Schindler as an example of the dedication to service he is hoping to instill in all Americans through his USA Freedom Corps initiative.

Schindler volunteers 12 to 14 hours each week with CACTUS-sponsored programs including Prison Project, a program that helps women at a local minimum security prisons earn their GED and Project Desire, where she tutors underprivileged students at Edwards Elementary School. During her freshman year in college, Schindler volunteered each week with Project Grandpeople, where she spent time with residents at nursing homes.

President Bush created the USA Freedom Corps office at the White House to foster an American culture of service, citizenship and responsibility. Through the USA Freedom Corps, President Bush wants to help every American answer the call to service by strengthening and expanding service opportunities to protect our homeland, support our communities and extend American compassion around the world. Interested volunteers can find information on the USA Freedom Corps at www.usafreedomcorps.gov or by calling 1-877-USA-Corps.

###