    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book I)]
    [February 13, 2007]
    [Page 128]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Tour of the YMCA Anthony Bowen
    February 13, 2007

        Thanks. The reason I'm here is that we're heralding volunteerism in
    America. No better place to come where volunteers are doing their work.
    One of the most important things we can do in our society is to mentor,
    is to serve as examples and to share knowledge with people so that
    everybody has a chance to realize the potential of the country. We've
    got mentors here, people who could be doing something other than being
    here today, but have chosen to mentor a child.
        And so I personally want to thank you very much. And I encourage
    people to volunteer. One of the great things about our country is that
    there are millions of people around our Nation who take it upon
    themselves to help improve the community in which they live, by lending
    their talents and their time to mentor a child or teach somebody to read
    or feed the hungry or provide shelter for the homeless.
        My job as the President is to rally the armies of compassion and to
    herald those examples where people are selflessly helping out others,
    such as here at this YMCA, right here in Washington, DC, and to call
    upon our fellow citizens to recognize that by helping somebody else, you
    really help yourself in many ways. You strengthen your spirit, and you
    strengthen your soul.
        So thank you all for having me. I'm thrilled to be here with the
    mentors and the mentorees. Volunteerism is an--has been an integral part
    of our country, and is today, and it needs to be in the future.
        Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 3:03 p.m.