For Immediate Release
March 26, 2002

President Bush to Recognize Two Atlanta Volunteers for Dedication to Service

President George W. Bush will meet Laura Clipper and Nir Eyal, two volunteers who have been active with Hands On Atlanta, on his arrival in Atlanta, Georgia. He will recognize Clipper and Eyal as examples 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 full-time student and mother of three, Clipper volunteers 20 hours each week at John Hope Elementary School through Hands On Atlanta READS, a program that helps students build reading skills. Clipper has also volunteered as a Girl Scout troop leader and with Special Olympics.

Eyal, an associate consultant with Boston Consulting Group, began his work with Hands On Atlanta as an AmeriCorps volunteer in 1996. Eyal recruited nearly 100 of his Emory University classmates to volunteer with Hands On Atlanta through the Emory READS program. Eyal also created the Emory Bigs project, a cooperative program with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater Atlanta that provides volunteer mentors to children.

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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