President George W. Bush will present the President’s Volunteer Service Award to Molly and Carly Houlahan, ages 15 and 13, when he arrives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Thursday, July 26, 2007. The sisters are co-founders of the non-profit company Hives for Lives. To thank them for making a difference in the lives of others, President Bush honors local volunteers when he travels throughout the United States. President Bush has met with more than 575 individuals around the country, like Molly and Carly, since March 2002.

After losing their paternal grandfather to cancer in 2003, Molly and Carly wanted to find a way to honor his memory and raise money to help find a cure for the disease. They decided to harvest honey from their maternal grandparents’ hives in Virginia and sell it for charity. Molly and Carly founded Hives for Lives in 2004 and designated all profits to benefit the American Cancer Society. During the past three years they have donated more than $22,000. The girls spin, filter, bottle, and label the honey and ship it to customers throughout the country. They make lip balm and candles from the beeswax, maintain the company’s web page, and sell the products at local community events. Molly and Carly also recuite youth Helper Bees from across the country to sell Hives for Lives products in honor of someone they love who was lost to cancer, and they started the Young Business Women: Hives for Lives Club at their school.

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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