FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, August 12, 2002
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The White House - USA Freedom Corps
Contact: Kathleen Mynster
202-456-7381 |
President Bush to Recognize Des Moines Area Woman for Dedication to Volunteer Service |
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President George W. Bush will meet Erika McCroskey when he arrives in Des
Moines on Wednesday. McCroskey is a 24 year-old AmeriCorps member from Monroe,
Iowa, who began volunteering as a child and is now preparing for a new service
experience in Bolivia.
In his State of the Union address, President Bush called on all Americans to
dedicate at least two years of their lives—the equivalent of 4,000 hours—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 McCroskey as an example of the dedication to service
he is hoping to instill in all Americans through his USA Freedom Corps
initiative.
Beginning with childhood visits to shut-ins with her mother and sisters,
McCroskey has a long history of a volunteer service. Since high school she has
volunteered as a summer camp counselor through her church, eventually becoming
the campÕs co-directorÑa volunteer position she continues to hold this summer.
McCroskey has been an advocate for victims of domestic violence since her junior
year of college, and during college she raised funds for shelter programs for
domestic abuse victims. She also started an on-campus mediation organization,
served with Habitat for Humanity, and volunteered with the Young Peacemakers
Club.
After graduation, McCroskey joined AmeriCorps where she works with the Iowa
Department of Natural Resources recruiting and training volunteers and
organizing service projects as part of a statewide initiative. During the past
year, she has also completed training as an American Red Cross disaster action
team member. McCroskey completes her two years of service with AmeriCorps in
September, and will depart for Bolivia in October, where she will work on
education and community outreach activities through the World Service Corps.
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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