For Immediate Release
March 26, 2002

President Bush to Recognize Greenville High School Student for Dedication to Service

President George W. Bush will meet with Gustavius "Gus" Philander Samuel, Jr., a local high school student who has been active with the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club when he arrives in Greenville, South Carolina tomorrow. President Bush will recognize Samuel 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.

A member of the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club of Greenville since he was 10 years old, Samuel has been an active volunteer at the club for the past 4 years. He has been a junior staff member, volunteer basketball and soccer coach, part-time recreation aide, field trip leader and after-school program mentor at the club. A high school senior with plans to begin college in the fall, Samuel has balanced his volunteer service at the club with his academic work, a part time job, and team sports including soccer and football.

Boys and Girls Club of America estimates that 3.3 million young people like Samuel have been members of the more than 2,800 club locations around the country, and that approximately 11,300 have been trained as full-time youth professionals, with another 22,500 trained as part-time youth professionals.

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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