During the Oakland town hall meeting focused on financial literacy and its connection to the larger economy, Treasury Secretary Paulson presented a lifetime President’s Volunteer Service Award to Gayliene Omary, a Wholesale Account Executive for Bank of America who has dedicated more than 27,000 hours of volunteer service over the course of her lifetime.
The lifetime award recognizes outstanding volunteers who have contributed over 4,000 hours of service. Through Operation HOPE, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides economic tools and services, Omary volunteers in California schools teaching students at various grade levels about the importance of making wise financial decisions. Last year, Omary received Operation HOPE’s “Banking on Our Future Volunteer of The Year” award to honor her community service.
In 2002, President Bush issued a national call to service and created the USA Freedom Corps to help all Americans serve causes greater than self. As a signature White House initiative, USA Freedom Corps works to foster a culture of service, citizenship and responsibility, and connect Americans with opportunities serve their country, their community and their neighbors. Since President Bush launched the initiative, volunteering is at historically high levels and last year alone, more than 60 million volunteers across America helped sustain social services and aid others in need, both at home and abroad.
To find or promote financial literacy volunteer opportunities in your area and learn more about the President’s call to service, visit: www.volunteer.gov.
For more information on the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Literacy, visit: www.treasury.gov/offices/domestic-finance/financial-institution/fin-education/council/index.shtml.
For more information on becoming a HOPE Corps member through Operation HOPE, assisting with Banking on Our Future (urban youth financial literacy), our HOPE Banking Center Network (adult economic empowerment), and our HOPE Coalition America (emergency economic disaster preparedness, response and recovery), visit www.operationhope.org.
Onward with HOPE,
John Hope Bryant
chairman, Operation HOPE
Vice chairman, U.S. President’s Advisory Council on Financial Literacy