President George W. Bush will meet Jerry Nienhuis when he arrives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Wednesday, January 29, 2003. Nienhuis has volunteered as a mentor with Kids Hope USA for the past seven years.

In his 2002 State of the Union address, President Bush called on all Americans to dedicate at least two years over their lifetimes 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 Nienhuis as an example of the dedication to service he is hoping to instill in all Americans through his USA Freedom Corps initiative.

In 1996, Nienhuis began volunteering with Kids Hope USA, a national service program that works with church congregations to provide mentors for at-risk children. After being challenged by his church to find a way to make a difference his community, Nienhuis signed up with Kids Hope USA as a mentor. This activity has made him more aware of the challenges facing school children, specifically those attending public schools in urban areas. For the past seven years, Nienhuis has spent at least one hour each week working with an elementary school student and continues to recruit more individuals to become positive role models and mentors for children.

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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