President George W. Bush will meet Al Smith when he arrives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on March 30, 2005. Smith is a volunteer with a number of community organizations including the School/Community Partnership Program at the Cedar Rapids Community School District and the Cedar Rapids Kernels Baseball Club.

Smith has helped match business partners with 25 schools in the Cedar Rapids Community School District. These partnerships help students gain awareness of business and career options and give employees the opportunity to get involved with the students through academics and cultural activities. In addition, Smith has been a volunteer with the Cedar Rapids Kernels Baseball Club for 28 years and organizes summer reading incentive programs and an annual baseball program for children with special needs. To thank them for taking the time to make a difference in the lives of others, President Bush has met with more than 400 individuals around the country, like Smith, since March 2002.

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.

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