FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, May 14, 2004
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The White House - USA Freedom Corps
Contact: Erik Hotmire 202-456-7381 |
President Bush to Recognize Georgia Tech Student for Dedication to Volunteer Service |
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President George W. Bush will meet Brandon Gray when he arrives in Atlanta,
Georgia, on Monday, May 17, 2004. Gray is an active volunteer with Jumpstart
Atlanta, an early literacy organization that recruits, trains, and places
college students in one-on-one mentoring relationships with children in early
learning programs.
The USA Freedom Corps is President Bush’s initiative to engage all Americans
in service to their neighbors and their nation by volunteering two years or
4,000 hours over the course of their lifetime. Since January 2002, President
Bush has met with more than 290 individuals around the country, like Gray, who
are answering the call to volunteer service.
Two to three times a week Gray reads to a young boy from a local Head Start
program and they discuss what they have read and how to use the pictures to aid
in the process of learning to read. Gray also spends time with the students in
various activities such as drawing, playing with puppets, and role playing. As
a result of the individualized attention that JumpStart Corps members like Gray
provide, children build language, literacy, social, and initiative skills --
skills that provide the necessary groundwork for later academic and social
success. In addition to the time that he spends with the students, Gray also
meets with the other JumpStart Corps members several times each week and
participates in planning meetings where they exchange ideas and discuss how they
can improve their program.
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
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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