President George W. Bush will present the President’s Volunteer Service Award to Jim Comer when he arrives in Detroit, Michigan, on Tuesday, February 8, 2005. Comer, 57, has been an active volunteer mentor with VIP Mentoring for the past three years.

President Bush has called on all Americans to volunteer two years or 4,000 hours over the course of their lifetimes, and he created USA Freedom Corpsto help foster a culture of service, citizenship, and responsibility. Since March 2002, President Bush has met with more than 400 individuals around the country, like Comer, who are answering the call to volunteer service.

VIP Mentoring matches children who have an incarcerated parent, with adult mentors. Comer is currently a mentor to two boys, ages 14 and 16. Comer helped establish a summer employment program for VIP Mentoring at Lear Corporation, called the Lear Automotive Youth Academy. Through this program youth, ages 12 to 14, are given courses in proper business attire, hygiene, etiquette, computer skills, and finance management. The young people are also introduced to volunteer service and spend time working at local soup kitchens. In addition to being a mentor, Comer is also the volunteer VIP Mentoring board chairman. Comer was a 2004 finalist for the Detroit Lions' William Clay Ford Community Quarterback Award which recognizes outstanding local volunteers.

The President's Volunteer Service Award, an initiative of the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation, is available to Americans of all ages who have demonstrated their dedication to volunteer service. More information about the award is available at www.presidentialserviceawards.gov.

Through USA Freedom Corps, President Bush wants to help every American answer the Call to Service by strengthening and expanding service opportunities. Interested volunteers can find available service opportunities in their communities at www.usafreedomcorps.gov or by calling 1-877-USA-CORPS. For information designed to show elementary and middle school students how they can start making a difference by volunteering, visit www.usafreedomcorpskids.gov.

At the direction of President George W. Bush, USA Freedom Corps is also working with former President George Bush and former President Bill Clinton as they lead a nationwide charitable fundraising effort to encourage private donations to the tsunami relief effort. Americans are asked to donate money to the organizations listed at www.usafreedomcorps.gov.

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