[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 14, 2004)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 2285-2286]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-956]



[[Page 2283]]

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Part III





The President





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Proclamation 7749--National Mentoring Month, 2004



Proclamation 7750--To Suspend Entry as Immigrants or Nonimmigrants of 
Persons Engaged in or Benefiting From Corruption
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  Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 9 / Wednesday, January 14, 2004 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 2285]]

                Proclamation 7749 of January 9, 2004

                
National Mentoring Month, 2004

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Mentoring reflects the great strength of America--the 
                heart and soul of the American people. During National 
                Mentoring Month, we recognize the dedicated individuals 
                who volunteer their time to mentor young people, and we 
                encourage more citizens to give back to their 
                communities as mentors.

                Mentors are friends, teachers, and role models. They 
                open doors of opportunity, convey values, and help 
                provide the stability and encouragement that young 
                people need to succeed. By spending time with a child 
                and showing compassion and guidance, a mentor can 
                profoundly affect a young life. Research shows that 
                adolescents who have an adult mentor are far less 
                likely to engage in high-risk behaviors. Mentoring 
                relationships create continuing cycles of hope and 
                promise, as they not only provide positive influences 
                for individual children, but also strengthen families 
                and communities.

                My Administration is working to expand mentoring and 
                other volunteer activities across America. Through the 
                USA Freedom Corps, we are promoting volunteer service 
                and offering our citizens more opportunities to help 
                others. We are also supporting faith-based and 
                community organizations, including many who sponsor 
                mentoring programs. In total, more than 63 million 
                Americans volunteered in their communities over the 
                past year--approximately 4 million more than the 
                previous year.

                The Department of Education will use Federal funds to 
                work with national youth-serving organizations, 
                independent community groups, and local education 
                agencies to develop, expand, and strengthen school-
                based mentoring programs for disadvantaged middle 
                school students. In addition, the Department of Health 
                and Human Services, the Department of Justice, and 
                other agencies will offer grants to help youth- serving 
                organizations recruit and train adult mentors for 
                nearly 100,000 children whose parents are incarcerated.

                These efforts are an important part of our ongoing work 
                to ensure that every child can realize the great 
                promise of America. Every life has value and potential, 
                and all deserve the opportunity to have a bright 
                future. By supporting the individuals and organizations 
                involved in mentoring and by encouraging more citizens 
                to participate in their good works, we can transform 
                America, one heart and one soul at a time.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United 
                States, do hereby proclaim January 2004 as National 
                Mentoring Month. I call upon the people of the United 
                States to recognize the importance of mentoring, to 
                look for opportunities to serve as mentors in their 
                communities, and to celebrate this month with 
                appropriate activities and programs.

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                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                ninth day of January, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand four, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and twenty-eighth.

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

[FR Doc. 04-956
Filed 1-13-04; 9:09 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P