The White House
President George W. Bush
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For Immediate Release
March 20, 2002

President Bush to Recognize El Paso Woman for Her Dedication to Service

President George W. Bush will meet Rosario Piedra, a Girl Scout troop leader and an active volunteer in the El Paso community for over fifteen years, when he arrives in El Paso, Texas, tomorrow. He will recognize Piedra as an example of the lifetime commitment to service he is hoping to instill in all Americans. In his State of the Union address, President Bush called on all Americans to dedicate at least two years -- the equivalent of 4,000 hours--in service to their communities, our country and the world. President Bush is recognizing men and women from around the country who are answering the call to service as part of his USA Freedom Corps initiative.

Piedra volunteers her time as the leader of Girl Scout Troop 274 (Rio Grande Girl Scout Council). She is also one of the volunteer organizers of El Paso's Dia de los Ninos. Each year her troop members volunteer as part of this celebration of books and learning for children and families that takes place in parks and libraries throughout the city of El Paso.

According to Girl Scouts of the USA, there are 3.7 million Girl Scouts, including almost one million caring and dedicated adult volunteer troop leaders like Piedra. But the Girl Scouts of the USA estimates that it needs more than 5,000 new volunteers to meet the needs of the more than 30,000 girls around the country who would like to be Girl Scouts but are waiting for adult volunteer leaders.

Piedra serves as the full-time director of Latchkey Centers Unlimited, Inc., where she began as a volunteer fifteen years ago. Latchkey Centers is a nonprofit organization that offers after-school programs at several schools in the El Paso area.

President Bush created the USA Freedom Corps office at the White House to foster an American 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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