FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 14, 2004
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The White House - USA Freedom Corps
Contact: Erik Hotmire
202-456-7381 |
President Bush to Recognize New Orleans Woman for Dedication to Volunteer Service |
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President George W. Bush will meet Tenisha Stevens upon arrival in New
Orleans, Louisiana, on Thursday, January 15, 2004. Stevens has been an active
volunteer with Union Bethel AME Church for the past 14 years.
Later this month, the USA Freedom Corps – President Bush’s initiative to
engage all Americans in service to their neighbors and their nation – will
celebrate its second anniversary. President Bush is recognizing individuals
around the country, like Stevens, who are answering the call to volunteer
service.
Since 1990, Stevens has volunteered with Union Bethel AME Church, where she
tutors at-risk first through sixth grade students at William J. Guste Elementary
School as part of an after school Youth Enhancement Program. Stevens also visits
with these students each Saturday through Union Bethel AME Church’s youth
ministry program, serving as a mentor and talking to them about conflict
resolution, alternatives to violence and social enhancement. Stevens also
volunteers with the church’s Homeless Prevention Program and serves hot meals
each Saturday to those in need. Since 2002, Stevens has volunteered with Top
Ladies of Distinction, Inc., a national non-profit educational and humanitarian
organization for women who are interested in the well-being of individuals and
the preservation of values. As a volunteer, Stevens works with 13 to 18 year-old
girls several times each month through the organization’s Top Teens of America
Program, helping them to enhance their writing skills and engage in volunteer
service activities. Each week, Tenisha also speaks to sixth to ninth grade
students about self-pride and self-respect as part of Project Success, a program
through the New Orleans District Attorney’s office that teaches youth about
character building and conflict and violence prevention.
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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