President George W. Bush will present the President’s Volunteer Service Award to Benny Smith, Jr., 17, when he arrives at the airport at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina, on Tuesday, July 4, 2006. Smith is a volunteer for a variety of programs at Fort Bragg, including Army Community Service and Happy Hats. To thank them for making a difference in the lives of others, President Bush honors a local volunteer, called a USA Freedom Corps greeter, when he travels throughout the United States. President Bush has met with more than 500 individuals around the country, like Smith, since March 2002.

Smith, who will be a senior at Pine Forest High School in the fall, has been an active volunteer at Fort Bragg for five years. He helped create the Fort Bragg Youth Leadership Conference to engage local youth in community and military activities. Smith was instrumental in the development of Happy Hats, a program that brings together youth volunteers to make and distribute hats to critically ill children. He recently completed his two-year term as the Army Teen Representative for the Southeast Region. During his tenure, he helped create a teen website which provides Army affiliated youth, worldwide, with information, educational classes, and opportunities for social interaction. Smith also helped institute a Teen Sponsorship program to help military youth transition to a new location.

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. 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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