President Bush Participates in Roundtable on Mentoring¹ Children of Prisoners Initiative

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 helping² children of people who are incarcerated³.

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 appreciative⁴ 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 mentors⁵ 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.

参考中文翻译：

总统：非常感谢你们都跟我说这是一个很重要的首创，这是一个帮助被禁闭在监狱中的人的孩子的指导项目。

我制定了一个目标，从2003年到2008年之间，能够让10万对成年人和孩子结成对子，让这些孩子可以得到一点爱。我很高兴，到9月份为止我们已经超过了这个目标。我要感谢所有的人成为这个可能改变人们的生活的项目的一部分。我认为是这样的。

首先，我想感谢Stacey, Julia和Destiney跟我们分享他们的故事，希望你们都一切平安。我希望你们——你们确实也做到了——我知道你们很感激Joe, Melissa和Emilee从他们的生活中抽出时间来帮助你们。我希望看到这个节目，看到这个项目的人都能意识到他们可以为改变孩子的生活贡献一份力量；这并不需要太多，只需要一点时间，只需要一点爱，但是通过帮助一个孩子，你确实也在帮助国家。你用爱来帮助自己，但是帮助美国——必须同时全心全意。

所以，Chuck，感谢你的友好。北卡罗莱纳州格林斯博罗的青年聚焦节目是Big Brothers and Big Sisters的一部分。Big Brothers and Big Sisters给这三个年轻人提供了指导者。这三个年轻人现在有了理想和目标，他们想去读大学。他们希望做出改变。我怀疑指导者们会迫不及待地加入这个他们曾经帮助——他们能够提供帮助的职业。

感谢各位的到来。上帝保佑你们，祝你们好运。