ADVISORY/America's Volunteer and Community Service Sector Meet in Baltimore; Ben Carson, Cal Ripken, U.S. Secretary Martinez to Address 3,000 Participants.

News Editors/Assignment Desks

ADVISORY...for Saturday-Tuesday (June 7-10)

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 6, 2003

America's leading volunteer and community service supporters will convene in Baltimore, June 8-10, to increase their effectiveness in meeting local needs and organizing volunteers in their home communities. Dr. Benjamin S. Carson, Sr., director of pediatric neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins Medicine; former Baltimore Oriole Cal Ripken, Jr.; and U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Mel Martinez will be among the keynoters addressing the important role that volunteering and community service play in strengthening neighborhoods and creating a culture of service throughout the nation.

Held by the Corporation for National and Community Service and the Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network, the National Conference will take place at the Baltimore Convention Center. The annual forum, an opportunity for premier training and networking, also will highlight what organizations around the U.S. are doing to help Americans answer President Bush's call to volunteer at least 4,000 hours of service during their lifetimes.

Media are encouraged to attend the following conference highlights. All events are in the Baltimore Convention Center ballroom unless otherwise noted.

Saturday, June 7

12:00 Noon - 5:00 p.m.

-- Serve-A-Thon 2003: Believe a Day Can Make a Difference

volunteer project will take place at Furman L. Templeton

Elementary School located at 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Conference attendees will help bring an outside makeover to

the school and clean up the entire block as part of a one-day

volunteer Blitz for the Baltimore community.

Sunday, June 8

9:30-11:30 a.m.

-- Maryland First Lady Kendel Sibiski Ehrlich, will welcome

attendees to Baltimore and highlight Maryland's commitment to

helping others.

-- Bob Goodwin, CEO of the Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer

Center National Network, Leslie Lenkowsky, CEO of the

Corporation for National and Community Service, and

-- Dr. Benjamin S. Carson, Sr., director of pediatric

neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, and

president and co-founder of the Carson Scholars Fund, will

discuss what it means to build a culture of service from the

national and community perspective.

-- Ray Chambers, leading philanthropist in the U.S. and his

hometown state of New Jersey, will be presented with the

prestigious Lenore and George W. Romney Citizen Volunteer

Award. Past honorees of this award include the Osmond family,

Bob Hope, Dorothy Height, and Colin L. Powell.

Tuesday, June 10

4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

-- U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Mel Martinez

will talk about the win/win situation of neighbor helping

neighbor in effecting community change.

-- Art and Pat Modell, owners of the Baltimore Ravens, will

receive the Points of Light Foundation Community Leadership

Award.

-- Cal Ripken, Jr., retired member of the Baltimore Orioles and

member of the President's Council on Service and Civic

Participation, and

-- John Bridgeland, Assistant to the President and Director of

USA Freedom Corp, will discuss the President's call to action

and what is needed to further advance the movement in

America's communities.

Editor's Note: Interviews with participants may be arranged in advance. Please call or stop by the conference Media Office, room 301, Level 300 at the Baltimore Convention Center between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on June 7 - 10.

The Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network supports the vital work of millions of volunteers, who are helping to solve serious social problems in thousands of communities nationwide. For more information about local volunteer activities, call 1-800-VOLUNTEER, or visit www.1-800-VOLUNTEER.org.

The Corporation for National and Community Service was established in 1993 to engage Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service to their communities. The Corporation oversees AmeriCorps, Learn and Serve America and Senior Corps, engaging more than 2 million Americans in service to their communities and country each year. For more information, call 202-606-5000 or visit www.nationalservice.org.