own home. The Freedom Youth Academy, as the kids themselves named it, soon became a reality. And now over 80 percent of the academy students, from kindergarten to 12th grade, have earned academic distinction. In fact, the high school students' SAT [Scholastic Aptitude Test] scores have improved from anywhere from 50 to 360 points, with many students going on to the Nation's very top schools. Mr. and Mrs. Gaskins, you've done so much for these young people, and we are very grateful to you. And among the many businesses pitching in across America is the Adolf Coors Company. Nearly half the total Coors work force in the State of Colorado, about 4,000 company employees and retirees, have banded together to donate approximately 35,000 hours of service to 116 separate projects in their communities. They've participated in winter clothing drives, food drives, community health checkups, low-income housing renovations, recycling programs, special olympics. You name it, all across the board, they've done it. Must be something in the water out there, but nevertheless―[laughter-it sounds grueling, 35,000 hours, but what a wonderful example. The enthusiasm that these employees have for community service really is remarkable. And every company in America should follow that lead. To all the Coors employees: Thank you for opening your hearts to your communities. Every award recipient here today really has an amazing story. For today's winners know that only in serving others do we find the fulfillment that everyone is seeking in life. Listen to every one of the men and women here with us today, and every one will tell you that serving others enriches their own lives at least as much as it enriches the lives of those that they touch. Each of these Americans holds the light of humanity in their hearts. And, like a candle in a steady hand, they share that light and inspire commitment in so many others. There is a bright path of goodness and love through the dark night of sadness and despair. I thank you, all of you, for what you've done. And God bless each and every one of you. Now, Barbara and I will present the 1990 President's Volunteer Action Awards with the help of two other very special people who've devoted so much of their time and talent to helping others-Jane Kenny, the head of ACTION; and my good friend, Governor George Romney, the Chairman of VOLUNTEER: the National Center. So, could I ask you all to come forward, and we will begin. [At this point, the awards were presented.] The President. Well, I am also pleased to announce that Mrs. Madrid is this administration's second recipient of an award named for a great President, a good friend, the originator of the President's Volunteer Action Awards—the Ronald Reagan Award for Volunteer Excellence. This special award was created to honor the individual whose contribution to voluntarism is greatest among the winners of the President's Volunteer Action Awards. Awfully difficult choice, but, Mrs. Madrid, we'd like to present you the Ronald Reagan Award. To you, and to all of you, our warmest congratulations. And again thank you all for coming. Note: The President spoke at 12:10 p.m. in the East Room at the White House. In his opening remarks, he referred to Debra Anderson, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. Designation of Edward E. Allison as The President today designated Edward E. Allison as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation. He would succeed Arthur A. Fletcher. Currently Mr. Allison serves as a partner with the law firm of McAuliffe, Kelly, Raffaelli and Siemens in Washington, DC. Prior to this, he served as an associate with Heron, Burchette, Ruckert and Rothwell in Washington, DC; senior adviser in the 1988 George Bush for President campaign; administrative assistant to Senator and Gener al Chairman of the Republican Party Paul Laxalt; and press secretary and administrative assistance for Senator Laxalt. Mr. Allison received a bachelor of arts degree and a master of arts degree from the University of Nevada. He was born January 9, 1940, in Denver, CO. Mr. Allison served in the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. He is married, has two children, and resides in Great Falls, VA. Points of Light Recognition Program The President named the following individuals and institutions as exemplars of his commitment to making community service central to the life and work of every Ameri can. April 22 Reef Relief, of Key West, FL. After witnessing an increase in the loss of coral reefs from anchors and excessive visitors, Craig Quirolo founded Reef Relief. Through Reef Relief, hundreds of individuals participate in many coral protection initiatives. They install mooring buoys along the coastal reefs of the Florida Keys in order to prevent anchor damage. Reef Relief also sponsors a public education program, teaching individuals not to touch, stand, or walk on the reefs. In addition, community members volunteer for the Marine Debris cleanup effort and water quality research activities. April 23 Midnight Basketball League, Inc., of Hyattsville, MD. The league was initiated by G. Van Standifer, the former town manager, in response to escalating crime rates and drug related activities in the Glenarden township. He recognized that basketball is a magnet which may be used to lure young adults off the street and into a productive environment. The program operates between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., 3 nights weekly during the summer months. Young men between the ages of 17 and 21 are eligible to participate. The league is supported by members of the law enforcement community, many of whom actively participate as coaches and referees. Local business community members donate funds and sponsor teams. The league coordinates 3 games each night, and professionals offer workshops between each game on educational opportunities and on the dangers of drug involvement. Young people who would ordinarily congregate on street corners now meet in the Glenarden Community Center Gym. April 24 Donald Edwin Horton, of Minneapolis, MN. Mr. Horton founded Operation Uplift, a creative alternative to monetary payment for legal services. When an attorney represents a client who cannot afford legal representation, the client is asked to serve others in their community in exchange for the legal services. Clients sign Operation Uplift agreements in which they promise to volunteer their services for the same number of hours as their attorney works on their matter. In addition, Mr. Horton has expanded the program within his own office. For the time he spends evaluating cases before a client hires him, clients are urged to reciprocate with community service, even if the client can afford the legal services. April 25 MAD DADS, of Omaha, NE. MAD DADS is an organization committed to providing young men with strong male role models, helping them to resist the temptations of drug abuse and gang involvement. MAD DADS (Men Against Destruction-Defending Against Drugs and Social Disorder) was founded by John Foster when his son returned home one night after having been beaten by gang members. He coordinated a volunteer group of 18 men striving to "get strong black men onto the streets and into the lives of their children." Today there are over 550 volunteers. The various projects include speaking to schoolchildren, painting over graffiti, patrolling streets, providing protection from gang threats, and sponsoring positive community events. In addition, a surrogate father program and a street counseling program hires unemployed black men, trains them in parenting and counseling skills, and assigns them to homes lacking adult male role models or to the streets where young people congregate. April 26 Lawndale Community Church Ministry, of Chicago, IL. In 1984 the Lawndale Christian Health Center was established to provide affordable health care to needy individuals. The volunteer staff of dentists, radiologists, orthopedic surgeons, pharmacy students, and physical therapists cares for over 450 patients per week. The center has also provided accredited training to senior medical students who have expressed an interest in serving low-income patients upon completion of their training. The Lawndale Education Ministry supplements the education of children in the community. This effort provides children with one-on-one tutoring, computer classes, ACT (American College Testing) and SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Testing) preparation classes, job training programs, and a summer program focusing on reading, math, spiritual development, and black history. The Lawndale College Opportunity Program provides students with college scholarships and positive role models. The Lawndale Community Church Housing Ministry provides affordable housing to low-income families. And the Clothing, Food, and Benevolence Ministry provides emergency food and clothing. April 27 Shelley Joyce Spell, of Houston, TX. After learning that a large number of her peers had experienced child abuse also, Ms. Spell founded Teens Against Child Abuse (TACA). For over 3 years, Ms. Spell has coordinated TACA's afterschool meetings, where TACA members share their experiences, offer information on child abuse, listen to professionals speak on the subject, and coordinate special fundraising events. Ms. Spell encourages parents, teachers, law enforcement officials, and counselors to participate in support meetings and other activities. She represents TACA at hearings, fundraising events, and other organizations' meetings. -Deputy Secretaries from each Cabinet agency, for lunch; -Secretary of the Treasury Nicholas F. Brady; -John H. Sununu, Chief of Staff to the President. In the morning, the President participated in a proclamation signing ceremony for National Volunteer Week and in a tribute to daily Points of Light and government employees in community service in the Rose Garden at the White House. In the afternoon, President Bush telephoned King Hussein I of Jordan to discuss Middle East issues. He also telephoned President Hafiz al-Assad of Syria to discuss the hostage situation in the Middle East and to thank Syria for its role in the release of Robert Polhill. The White House announced that the President has asked the Congress to consider several amendments to the fiscal year 1991 request for appropriations. In addition, he asked the Congress to consider several fiscal year 1990 supplemental requests. He is concurrently sending the Congress a special message proposing rescissions that would offset the increased fiscal year 1990 costs that result from the supplemental requests. As required by law, he is submitting two requests for fiscal year 1990 supplemental appropriations for the legislative branch and two fiscal year 1991 budget amendments for the judiciary. April 24 The President met at the White House with: -the Vice President; John H. Sununu, Chief of Staff to the President; Brent Scowcroft, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs; and members of the CIA briefing staff; -Congressional leaders, to discuss the U.S. response to Soviet economic sanctions against Lithuania; -the Vice President, for lunch; -the University of Wisconsin Badgers, the National Collegiate Athletic Association hockey champions; -Secretary of State James A. Baker III; -John H. Sununu, Chief of Staff to the President. The President announced his intention to nominate Andrew Camp Barrett to be a member of the Federal Communications Commission for a term of 5 years from July 1, 1990. This is a reappointment. April 25 The President met at the White House with: -the Vice President; John H. Sununu, Chief of Staff to the President; Brent Scowcroft, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs; and members of the CIA briefing staff; -John H. Sununu, Chief of Staff to the President. In the afternoon, the President attended a reception for the Connecticut Republican Party in the Indian Treaty Room of the Old Executive Office Building. The President transmitted to the Congress the annual report of the National Endowment for Democracy for fiscal year 1989. The President appointed Gen. Colin L. Powell, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to be a Governor of the Board of Governors of the American National Red Cross for a term of 3 years. He would succeed William J. Crowe, Jr. The President appointed Jan B. Vlcek, of Maryland, to be the Federal Representative of the United States to the Western Interstate Nuclear Board. He would succeed Lawrence F. O'Donnell. Currently Mr. Vlcek serves as a partner with the law firm of Sutherland, Asbill and Brennan in Washington, DC. The President announced his intention to designate the following individuals to be members of the Board of Directors of the Rural Telephone Bank: Charles H. Bronson, Jr., of Florida. Mr. Bronson would succeed William F. Stake. Currently he is a self-employed rancher in Satellite Beach, FL. Bruce L. Gardner, of Maryland. Mr. Gardner would succeed John William Bode. Currently he serves as Assistant Secretary for Economics at the Department of Agriculture in Washington, DC. Roland R. Vautour, of Vermont. This is a reappointment. Mr. Vautour serves as Under Secretary for Small Community and Rural Development at the Department of Agriculture in Washington, DC. Adis Maria Vila, of Florida. Ms. Vila would succeed John J. Franke, Jr. Currently she serves as Assistant Secretary for Administration at the Department of Agriculture in Washington, DC. April 26 The President met at the White House with: -the Vice President; John H. Sununu, Chief of Staff to the President; Brent Scowcroft, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs; and members of the CIA briefing staff; -the National Cattlemen's Association leadership; -winners of the JFK Representative Volunteer of the Year Award; -John H. Sununu, Chief of Staff to the President. In the afternoon, the President and Mrs. Bush attended a reception for the Republican Congressional Leadership Council at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. In the evening, President Bush hosted a state dinner for President Carlos Andrés Pérez of Venezuela on the State Floor at the White House. April 27 The President met at the White House with: -the Vice President; John H. Sununu, Chief of Staff to the President; Brent Scowcroft, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs; and members of the CIA briefing staff; -John H. Sununu, Chief of Staff to the President. The President announced his intention to designate the following individuals to be members of the Board of Visitors to the United States Military Academy, for terms expiring December 30, 1992: John H. Lindsey, of Texas. He would succeed William D. Mounger. Currently Mr. Lindsey serves as owner of the Lindsey Insurance Agency, in Houston, TX. Sally Freeman McKenzie, of Texas. She would succeed George B. Price. Currently Mrs. McKenzie serves on the board of directors for Pier One Imports, in Dallas, TX. |