President George W. Bush will present the President’s Volunteer Service Award to Josh Blyden, 17, when he arrives at the airport in Miami, Florida, on Saturday, April, 28, 2007.  Blyden is a volunteer with Hands on Miami.  To thank them for making a difference in the lives of others, President Bush honors a local volunteer when he travels throughout the United States.  President Bush has met with more than 575 individuals around the country, like Blyden, since March 2002.

Blyden, a junior at Miami Palmetto Senior High School, is the President of Hands On Miami's Youth Advisory Counsel.  He has logged more than 250 hours of volunteer service since May 2005. Through this program youth, ages 13 and older, submit project ideas and then plan, organize, and manage service projects with organizations throughout Miami-Dade County.  Blyden has been the leader for a variety of projects serving organizations including Ronald McDonald House, Community Partnership for the Homeless, Trick or Treat Miami and the Sabbath Dog Rescue.  In addition, on April 20-22, 2007, Blyden joined more than 400 youth in the Miami area who participated in service projects in conjunction with the 2007 National and Global Youth Service Day.  

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. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 61 million Americans volunteered in 2006. 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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