President George W. Bush will meet Karen Donton when he arrives in St. Louis, Missouri, on Monday, April 5, 2004. Donton is an active volunteer with Cardinals Care, the community service initiative of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Earlier this year, the USA Freedom Corps – President Bush’s initiative to engage all Americans in service to their neighbors and their nation by volunteering two years or 4,000 hours – celebrated its second anniversary. Since January 2002, President Bush has met with more than 270 individuals around the country, like Donton, who are answering the call to volunteer service.

Donton has volunteered with Cardinals Care for the past six years. During that time, the organization has helped build several baseball fields in the metro area, and has donated money to schools, homeless shelters, and other groups. Donton volunteers in various capacities including helping plan and operate the group’s annual fundraiser, the “Winter Warm-up.” She also helps with the Cardinals Care silent auction of team memorabilia during Friday night home games. In addition to her work with Cardinals Care, Donton also volunteers with the Lupus Foundation and the St. Patrick’s Center, a shelter for people who are in need of financial aid.

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.

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