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GREENSBORO, North Carolina, Dec. 2 /Standard Newswire/ -- The following text is of remarks by President Bush after roundtable on mentoring children of prisoners initiative:

Youth Focus, Inc.
11:58 A.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  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 watches this show, watches this program, realizes that they can make a difference in a child's life; that it doesn't take much.  Oh, it takes some 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 provided the mentors to 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 -- they've been able to help.

And so thank you all for coming.  God bless you, and good luck to you.

END              12:01 P.M. EST