[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 48 (Monday, December 8, 2008)]
[Pages 1478-1479]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on the Mentoring Children of Prisoners Initiative in Greensboro, 

North Carolina

December 2, 2008

    I am thankful that you all have come to talk to me about a very 
important initiative, and it's a mentoring program aimed at helping 
children of people who are incarcerated.
    I set a goal for the country that from 2003 until 2008 that we'd 
have 100,000 such matches with adults combined with a child who could 
use some love. And I'm pleased that as of September we've exceeded that 
goal. And I want to thank you all for being a part of a program that, 
hopefully, is bringing hope to people's lives. I think it is.
    First of all, I want to thank Stacey, Julia, and Destiney for 
sharing their stories, and I wish you all the best. I hope you--you're--
I know you're appreciative that Joe, Melissa, and Emilee have taken time 
out of their lives to help you. I am hopeful that somebody who

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watches this show, watches this program, realizes that they can make a 
difference in a child's life. That doesn't take much. All it takes is 
time; it takes a little bit of extra love. But by helping a child, you 
can really help the country. You help yourself by loving, but you help 
America one heart, one soul at a time.
    So, Chuck, thank you for your hospitality. The Youth Focus program 
here in Greensboro, North Carolina, is a part of Big Brothers and Big 
Sisters. Big Brothers and Big Sisters have begun to mentor towards these 
three youngsters. These youngsters got ambitions and goals. They want to 
go to college. They want to make a difference. And I suspect that the 
mentors will be anxiously following the career of someone who they have 
been able to help.
    And so thank you all for coming. God bless you, and good luck to 
you.

Note: The President spoke at 11:58 a.m. at the Big Brothers Big Sisters 
of Greater Greensboro office. In his remarks, he referred to Stacey 
Harris, Jr., Julia Foster, and Destiney Carter, Big Brothers Big Sisters 
participants; Joey Gladson, Melissa Larkin, and Emilee Christopher, Big 
Brothers Big Sisters mentors; and Chuck Hodierne, executive director, 
Youth Focus, Inc.