President George W. Bush will present the President’s Volunteer Service Award to Joe Lapenta when he arrives in Hartford, Connecticut, on Friday, April 25, 2008. Lapenta is a volunteer with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford. To thank them for making a difference in the lives of others, President Bush honors a local volunteer when he travels throughout the United States. He has met with more than 600 volunteers, like Lapenta, since March 2002.

Lapenta has beenaffiliatedwith theBoys & Girls Clubs of Hartford for 68 years as a youthparticipant, staff member and volunteer. Lapentafirst visited the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford at the age of sixand was active in the Club'sprograms in his youth. As an adult, Lapenta wasinitially hired as a program director and ultimately became the only executive director for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford who began as a “ClubKid.”Since his retirement in 1999, Lapenta has continued to volunteer with the organization. He hasserved as ayouth mentor,a coach for sporting events, and assistsstudents with homeworkand college applications.

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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