Washington, DC – In a ceremony today at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, the reigning Miss America and the 51 state title-holders competing in the Miss America 2003 Competition received the President’s Volunteer Service Award for their sustained commitment to volunteer service. Darrell Green, chair of the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation and former Super Bowl champion, thanked each of the young women for their dedication to helping others and distributed the awards.

“It’s inspiring to meet a group of accomplished people who place a priority on helping others,” Green commented. “These young women have demonstrated their commitment to the values that make America great—compassion, willingness to help those in need, and a recognition of the importance of community service.”

The President’s Volunteer Service Award, a new initiative of the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation, was created to recognize Americans of all ages who have made a sustained commitment to volunteer service. The Award is earned by individuals, families and groups that have demonstrated outstanding volunteer service and civic participation. Requirements over a 12-month period range from 50 hours or more for youth 14 and under to 100 hours for those 15 and above and 200 hours for groups and families. Individuals who have completed 4,000 hours over the course of their lifetime can earn the President’s Call to Service Award.

Each of the Miss America state title-holders earned her President’s Volunteer Service Award for performing more than 100 hours of volunteer service in the past 12 months. Their service activities focused on such activities as youth mentoring, preventing domestic violence, family literacy, and music education. Several of the state title-holders plan to make volunteer service a key part of their year-long platform once they get back to their respective states.

John Bridgeland, Director of USA Freedom Corps, said, “Each of these young leaders has answered the President’s call to service by sharing her compassion with others. I encourage them to make a commitment to service a central message as they carry out their Miss America duties and inspire others to help their communities.”

The Miss America organization provides young women with a vehicle to further their personal and professional goals and instills a spirit of community service through a variety of unique nationwide community-based programs. On an annual basis, Miss America state titleholders, along with the organization's network of volunteers, participate in more than 12,000 volunteer service projects, providing in excess of 500,000 service hours to worthy causes.

The President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation was established by executive order on January 30, 2003, by President George W. Bush. The Council’s mission is to recognize and encourage volunteer service and civic participation. The 24 members of the Council include entertainers, athletes, retired elected officials, business and media leaders, leaders of nonprofit and volunteer service organizations, and community volunteers. The President’s Council and the President’s Volunteer Service Awards are initiatives administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

The Corporation for National and Community Service engages Americans of all ages and backgrounds in meeting critical needs in education, the environment, public safety, homeland security, and other areas. The Corporation and its programs—Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America—are part of USA Freedom Corps, a White House initiative to foster a culture of citizenship, service, and responsibility, and help all Americans answer the President's Call to Service. For more information about the President’s Volunteer Service Awards, visit www.presidentialserviceawards.gov.

President Bush created the USA Freedom Corps office at the White House to foster a culture of service, citizenship and responsibility. Through the USA Freedom Corps, President Bush wants to help every American answer the call to volunteer 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 opportunities in their own neighborhoods through the USA Freedom Corps web site at www.usafreedomcorps.gov or by calling 1-877-USA-CORPS.

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