National Mentoring Month, 2004

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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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Title 3--
The President

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.

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