Baseball's McArthur Receives President's Volunteer Service Award
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 | Baseball
Senior Brandon McArthur (Seffner, Fla.) of the University of Florida baseball team recently received a President's Volunteer Service Award from President George W. Bush's Council on Service and Participation. The award recognizes McArthur's contributions to the Gainesville community and demonstrating values that "make our nation strong in helping to build a culture of citizenship, service and responsibility in America."
President Bush wrote, "Your ability to overcome adversity is a testament to your character, and your compassionate efforts serve as an inspiration to others. You are making our Nation better and stronger, one person at a time."
McArthur constantly lends his time and support to a variety of charitable causes. He was named to the 2008 SEC Baseball Community Service Team that highlights an athlete from each school who gives back to his community in superior service efforts.
McArthur has been a representative on Florida's Student-Athlete Committee (SAC) and is a frequent speaker at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes' meetings. He often visits the pediatric care unit at Shands Hospital (where he was a patient recovering from his life-threatening injuries) and has participated in wheel-chair basketball with Special Olympians. McArthur spoke at "Youth Quake," an organization that provides alternative Christian entertainment that confronts issues relevant to today's teenagers and has given speeches at Gainesville middle schools about the importance of doing well in school. In addition, he is a member of the Big Brothers' organization in which he often brings little kids to practice and brightens their day by having them around the Gator baseball players.
McArthur will be the keynote speaker at the March of Dimes Health Conference that will be held on the University of Florida campus on Dec. 2. His responsibility will be to engage 350 at-risk middle school students by his speech. This is the 20th year for the conference and McArthur was chosen because the group was looking for "an athlete with a motivating story and a person who can teach these children the importance of believing in their dreams."
He participated in the Climb for Cancer Sports Camp in the middle of October. This year's camp, which was held on campus at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center and the Gator football practice fields, allowed children to participate in a number of athletic activities. The camp was made up of four sports venues which included football, basketball, volleyball and soccer. Both the children and student-athletes were able to enjoy themselves in activities ranging from pick-up basketball and volleyball games in the O'Dome, to soccer drills or a game of catch at the football practice fields. Climb for Cancer is a not-for-profit organization that has funded or created several programs which provide support to the patient and family, research grants, and given kids the opportunity to attend camps such as this one.
McArthur participated in the reality show "Ultimate Choice" in the summer of 2006, a program that followed eight people through an extreme adventure in the deserts and mountains of Arizona and New Mexico. The premise behind "Ultimate Choice" is an opportunity for eight young adults to experience the extreme adventure of their lives, getting thrust face-to-face with challenges that have lifelong implications. UC didn't have actors or scripts, just real teens living real-life situations with real reactions and drama. The show creatively and interestingly explores the most explosive issues facing young people today - the things these teens are talking about in their everyday lives.
In his January 2002 State of the Union Address, President Bush called on all Americans to make a difference in their communities through volunteer service. He created USA Freedom Corps, an Office of the White House, to strengthen and expand volunteer service. Americans are responding to the President's Call to Service. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 61 million Americans volunteered in 2006.
The President's Volunteer Service Award was created at the President's direction by the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation. The Award is available to youth ages 14 and under who have completed 50 or more hours of volunteer service; to individuals 15 and older who have completed 100 or more hours; and to families or groups who have completed 200 or more hours.
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