President George W. Bush will present the President’s Volunteer Service Award to Father Joseph Champlin when he arrives in Rochester, New York, on Tuesday, March 14, 2006. Champlin is the founder of the Father Champlin Guardian Angel Society. To thank them for making a difference in the lives of others, President Bush has met with more than 475 individuals around the country, like Champlin, since March 2002.

The Guardian Angel Society, founded by Champlin in 1997, is a non-profit organization that benefits the Cathedral School in Syracuse. This inner-city Catholic school enrolls kindergarten through sixth-grade students from varied cultural, religious, and economic backgrounds. The Guardian Angel Society hosts fundraisers for the school that have generated nearly two million dollars for tuition assistance and technology improvements in the classrooms. The funds also support continuing education for students after graduation from Cathedral School. In addition, Champlin helped establish a mentoring program in which community volunteers are matched with students for one-on-one tutoring sessions once per week throughout the school year.

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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