WASHINGTON — President Bush on Wednesday selected domestic policy adviser John Bridgeland, who grew up in Indian Hill, to direct a new national initiative to promote community service.

Bridgeland

        In his State of the Union address, the president asked Americans to devote at least two years — or 4,000 hours — of their lives to volunteer work for their neighborhoods and their country. Mr. Bush announced the creation of the USA Freedom Corps to oversee federal volunteer and community service activities.

        “If people want to fight terror, do something kind for a neighbor, join the USA Freedom Corps. Love somebody. Mentor a child. Stand up to evil with acts of goodness and kindness,” Mr. Bush said Wednesday afternoon at a speech in Winston-Salem, N.C.

        Mr. Bush introduced Mr. Bridgeland, 41, in Winston-Salem and said his adviser would be accountable for carrying out his vision. Mr. Bridgeland, who has been involved in the president's faith-based initiatives, will move into the new post from the White House Domestic Policy Council.

        Mr. Bridgeland, a former chief of staff to Rep. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, said that he hoped volunteer service would become a larger part of the nation's culture. He said the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, like the military threat during World War II, may inspire people to action.

        “It's a very, very exciting opportunity to give Americans of all ages a way to serve their country,” he said.

        Mr. Bush will include $560 million for the USA Freedom Corps in his fiscal year 2003 budget Monday, with the money divided among three separate initiatives.

        A new Citizens Corps will encourage people to help with homeland security by volunteering with police, neighborhood watch, emergency response and medical reserve programs. Communities would receive federal matching money to establish new citizen corps councils made up of civic leaders. The councils would develop action plans and identify potential security threats.

        The president also would expand AmeriCorps, a Clinton-era effort in which young people spend a year in community service and earn money for college or job training, by 25,000 participants. In Cincinnati, AmeriCorps workers help social-service groups with tutoring, literacy, health and lead-based paint education campaigns.

        The president also would expand Senior Corps, which directs seniors into community service, through new opportunities for 100,000 volunteers.

        Mr. Bush also set a target of doubling participation in the Peace Corps — back to its 1966 high of 15,000 volunteers — in the next five years with an emphasis on outreach work in Afghanistan and the Islamic world.

        Mr. Portman said Mr. Bridgeland was an outstanding choice to lead an important domestic initiative.

        “I am confident that John will lead it in an impressive manner,” he said.

       For more information: On the Web: www.usafreedomcorps.gov. Or call: (877) USA-CORPS.

       Gannett News Service reporter Chuck Raasch contributed to this report.
       
       

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