[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 7 (Monday, February 19, 2007)]
[Page 149]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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.