Bush lauds Mentoring Children of Prisoners

The Mentoring Children of Prisoners program has surpassed its goal of 100,000 matches, U.S. President Bush said Tuesday.

Speaking after a round table on the initiative in Greensboro, N.C., Bush said he set the goal when he discussed the program in his 2003 State of the Union address.

And I'm pleased that as of September we've exceeded that goal, with more than 110,800 mentor-mentored matches nationwide, he said. And I want to thank you all for being a part of a program that hopefully is bringing hope to people's lives.

The program offers grants and support to local non-profits to recruit, train, match and maintain relationships between children of prisoners and their volunteer mentors. The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Greensboro program, operated by the non-profit Youth Focus, Inc., makes the matches in its area.

Bush said he hoped people would recognize how they can make a difference in the live of an at-risk child.

Oh, it takes some time, it takes a little bit of extra love, but by helping a child, you can really help the country, he said. You help yourself by loving, but you help America -- one heart, one soul at a time.