Desiree Thompson Sayle, Deputy Assistant to President Bush and Director of USA Freedom Corps, was a recent guest on "Your Turn — Meeting Nonsense with Common Sense," a radio program hosted by the Center for Individual Freedom’s Corporate Counsel Renee Giachino. In the interview that aired on 1330 AM WEBY, Northwest Florida’s Talk Radio, Ms. Sayle talked about America’s increasing desire to volunteer and President Bush’s creation of USA Freedom Corps.

What follows are excerpts from her interview.

GIACHINO: This is something that does not happen every day here at the radio station WEBY — we are tied in right now to the White House. That is the White House in Washington, D.C. It is my extreme pleasure to welcome to the program Deputy Assistant to the President and the Director of USA Freedom Corps, Ms. Desiree Sayle. Are you there Ms. Sayle?

SAYLE: I am, Renee, thank you so much.

GIACHINO: Thank you very much for coming on the program. I visited your website over the last couple of weeks and I saw that you keep an extremely busy schedule. We’ve been trying to set up this interview for quite some time. When do you get the time to sleep?

SAYLE: Well, I actually have a pretty reasonable schedule. But we also have a great staff here — a small staff — at the White House. Obviously, you cannot do it without great team work.

GIACHINO: If you would please fill the audience in on the mission of USA Freedom Corps?

SAYLE: Well, USA Freedom Corps was born out of another tragedy, not a natural disaster like the hurricane you experienced, but with the terrorist attacks on September 11th. With the terrorist attacks on September 11th, President Bush wanted to call on all Americans to continue the compassion that they showed on that day and in the weeks and months following. So he created USA Freedom Corps.

He announced the launch of USA Freedom Corps in the State of the Union Address in 2002, and basically that was to encourage citizens to continue to be involved in their communities or become involved in their communities through volunteer services. So he challenged Americans to dedicate at least 2 years or 4000 hours over the course of their lifetime to their communities and volunteer service.

GIACHINO: Since USA Freedom Corps was conceived after the 2002 State of the Union Address, do you think volunteer hours have gone up in America and what percentage of people do you think will actually follow through and commit the 2 years or 4000 hours to volunteering? And finally, how can you track that?

SAYLE: Sure. There is a really good system in place now. We have the Bureau of Labor and Statistics that has helped us gauge the interest of volunteer service of Americans. And what they have determined is that there has been a significant increase — actually almost 65 million Americans volunteered between the 2003-2004 time period, and that is a significant increase since September 11th that we are really pleased to report on. BLS will continue to help us with understanding more about volunteers, American volunteers, and their habits in volunteering. Whether or not we will gauge a percentage of those individuals who have answered the President’s call to service will of course be difficult, but we know that there is a great number of people who have already dedicated a great amount of their time to volunteer services. We want to continue that and make sure that they serve as models in their community.

GIACHINO: I know a lot of people may recall the inception of USA Freedom Corps and then maybe they got busy again. For some people it was a well-needed push to get them out there to volunteer. I think a resurgence happened at the end of last year with USA Freedom Corps in the forefront of people’s minds when we started to hear about the fundraising efforts for the December 26th Tsunami victims.

I know that the efforts on behalf of USA Freedom Corps have been referred to as a great success. How much money has actually been raised through the organization?

SAYLE: Well, we don’t specifically raise the funds. We supported the former Presidents in their call to action, and we provided a list through the USAID that listed existing international relief organizations that were already on the ground delivering relief to the Tsunami victims and survivors. That provided a forum for the former Presidents to link through so that they could tell people where to go to find out additional information and how to contribute. Through the University of Chicago in Illinois there was a study done that estimated about $1 billion raised by the American private sector. That of course compares to the $950 million committed by the federal government. So we are pretty pleased that they have gotten a fantastic response. All sorts of organizations received a great deal of support from American citizens. We are blessed to be from such a generous country.

GIACHINO: I think that is great to hear. I know initial reports from overseas and in Asia and some European countries were very critical of the United States, saying we did not do enough early on after the disaster. After all of our generous assistance, do you think we have redeemed ourselves?

SAYLE: I certainly think they have an appreciation for the American people and reports have shown that that is the case. So yes, I do believe — well, not actually redeemed ourselves because I feel like to a great degree we were trying to assess the situation before going in and committing taxpayer dollars to that situation, and we had the military on-site almost immediately after the disaster with committed resources to help with the relief efforts. So I feel like that is probably not an accurate statement about Americans not committing initially, but I do think that if anyone did feel like that it certainly is not the case any longer.

GIACHINO: How does the effort of USA Freedom Corps differ from that of the Peace Corps?

SAYLE: We are actually a coordinating council of all of the national service programs. We work very closely with promoting the efforts of the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, our Senior Corps — which I delight in because it really encourages our seniors to get involved in their communities, Learn and Serve — which is a great program of the federal government that encourages learning and serving in our schools for our young people, and Citizens Corps — which you might be familiar with because they really were the nexus of disaster relief for the hurricanes. We also coordinate with all other nationwide agencies like Take Pride in America and some of the other great initiatives which are housed in the federal government.

GIACHINO: Someone just called in and does not want to come on the air but wants me to ask you what the total federal budget is for this program? I assume what they are talking about is USA Freedom Corps. You already gave us the numbers for what the United States committed to for Tsunami Relief efforts.

SAYLE: That’s right. As far as the Tsunami, the money had been committed through the federal government to the tune of $950 million and private donations were $1 billion. USA Freedom Corps is an office within the White House so we do not have an appropriated budget. We are White House staff members and this is the President’s volunteer mission. When you are talking about the National Service Program budget though that exceeds or comes close to about $1 billion.

GIACHINO: Let’s go back to the Tsunami relief efforts. Did you have a chance to go over to Asia to see the devastation first-hand?

SAYLE: Well my deputy director did have a chance. I am six months pregnant, so I was unable to meet the requirements to go.

GIACHINO: Congratulations nonetheless.

SAYLE: Yes, I keep telling people I had something more important to do. Which really, what could be more important? But this is definitely it.

GIACHINO: That’s right. That is what all of this is for — our children, their children, the world’s children. That is who we are doing this for.

What have former President Bush and former President Clinton told you about their trips overseas?

SAYLE: Now last Tuesday they had an opportunity to meet with President Bush and report to him their impressions of what they found. They participated in this campaign as private citizens and so going over there they really went as a Presidential designation and got to meet with lots of dignitaries of the countries as well as the relief organizations. I think what they found is an incredible outpouring of compassion shown from around the world for these victims and that there is quite a bit of work to be done. The relief stages have really been sunsetted, but as far as the reconstruction goes it is going to be a very long campaign and a very long effort. I think they were just really touched by the gratefulness of the victims of this disaster toward Americans, and they were able to deliver that message back home to the American people as well as the President. So that was an overriding theme.

GIACHINO: Who is credited with coming up with the brilliant idea to ask former President Bush and former President Clinton to join together on the Tsunami relief effort?

SAYLE: Well, we were delighted to see from their offices a real interest in calling and offering help. So we really credit them with the idea behind this and being willing to give up their personal lives again and come back into public spotlight, particularly with senior President George H.W. Bush coming up on 82 and President Clinton with his current health condition. We really felt like this was an incredible commitment and we were thrilled with their interest level in helping in whatever way they could think of and we could think of collectively.

GIACHINO: Are they still soliciting money from private organizations to help with the effort?

SAYLE: I think that is a really good question. I feel like that part of this campaign has been sunsetted with the report to the President and their return trip from Asia, and I think it signaled that we were really able to make a significant difference. And so the fundraising campaign per se has been sunsetted. Obviously President Clinton will continue to go on in his capacity as the U.N. Special Envoy for the Secretary General for Tsunami reconstruction. I think they will continue to have a really strong compassion for the victims of this disaster.

GIACHINO: How closely will the White House staff members be able to monitor, if at all, that the money is actually getting to the victims and who is coordinating that effort?

SAYLE: Here is the good news. The organizations listed on our website through USAID, which is the USAID list of international relief organizations that were on the ground over there delivering relief, we listed those organizations directly. So there were at any given time over 60 organizations listed that you could contribute to and you got to pick the one that you liked best for whatever reason and you contribute directly so that there was not a fund that needed to be disbursed. Those organizations received the money directly from the American people, and we were not the middleman in collecting those funds.

GIACHINO: What is your website address if people want to learn more about USAID?

SAYLE: Oh, that is great. I’d love to be able to tell them more about our website and what we have on it. They will see that we have the largest on-line clearinghouse of volunteer opportunities on the entire Internet. Our website is www.usafreedomcorps.gov. We also have a great kids’ site, which is my inspiration. The kids’ website here is specifically targeted for elementary and middle school kids to encourage volunteer service, and it serves as a resource for parents and teachers as well to encourage youth volunteer service. That is at www.usafreedomcorpskids.gov. But you can find a link on our site.

GIACHINO: I think it is very important to point out to people that there is so much more to USA Freedom Corps than just the recent Tsunami relief efforts. On your website, as you mentioned, there is wonderful place you can go if you are looking for an opportunity to volunteer. I know we don’t need many opportunities here in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan, but if you are moving to another city and you want to take your volunteer hours there or if you want to do something more national or global, there are links right there to all of these different organizations that are looking for people to volunteer. I think that is a wonderful resource. If for no other reason, please visit the website and look at all the opportunities that you have to give back to your community.

SAYLE: Renee, thank you very much. That is exactly what we are hoping will happen. Even when you are on vacation, you may not think of doing a volunteer activity but there are plenty of them.

GIACHINO: It is so rewarding. I know all of the help that people have given us has been so appreciated and we are tremendously grateful and we have pledged to some day go back out and go to a community where we don’t know anybody and help people in desperate ways as we have been.

Ms. Sayle, we have a caller on hold and I guess since this is a call-in show I have to share the microphone, although I am thoroughly enjoying hogging it. Go ahead caller.

CALLER: USA Freedom Corps, is that division of or is it a part of the national service corps, or is it all one thing? I am a little confused on that.

SAYLE: I know. I was trying to explain a little earlier that USA Freedom Corps is an office within the White House although we serve as a coordinating council for all of the national service programs, including AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, our Citizen Corps and a number of other programs. We work very hard to promote volunteer service within and out of the federal government.

CALLER: So USA is under the national?

SAYLE: USA Freedom Corps is at the White House. We just work very closely with the national service programs.

CALLER: So the budget you mentioned of $1 billion, is that the whole national service corps?

SAYLE: That is all of the national service programs combined.

CALLER: And that was started when?

SAYLE: Well, each individual initiative was started at different times. Of course President Kennedy started the Peace Corps program. President Roosevelt started a number of programs within the Corporation for National Community Service. President Clinton started the AmeriCorps program with regards to our youth service entry-level program. So there have been a number of initiatives and they continue to receive federal funding.

CALLER: That makes it a little clearer.

SAYLE: Visit our website if you have access to that. If not, I welcome you to learn more about us by calling 1-800-USA-CORPS and we would be delighted to send you any brochure or promotional material you think you might need.

CALLER: And the USA Freedom Corps under President Bush — we don’t have a budget figure because it is under the White House budget, right?

SAYLE: That is correct.

CALLER: That would be an off-federal item and not included in the budget?

SAYLE: We are just within the White House EOP — Executive Office of the President staff. So it would be in the White House EOP budget.

CALLER: Discretionary budget, right?

SAYLE: That is correct.

CALLER: Very good. Thank you.

GIACHINO: Thank you for the call. We only have a few minutes left. Let me turn first to Citizens Corps. Obviously the folks here want to hear as much as they can about the people who are coming here to help us in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan.

SAYLE: That was just an amazing thing that Floridians really gathered together. And our nation did, as well, to support the victims of the hurricanes that swept through the area. I have family in the St. George Island area and it was really rather remarkable. I will try to be brief. Citizens Corps was created by President Bush to provide resources and material for public education and training and it offers volunteer service opportunities. This is particularly of interest to you retirees. It offers public interest training for people with an interest in homeland security and a number of other natural disaster training opportunities. It is really an incredible resource to your local communities and they really hit the ground running with regard to the Florida disaster. We learned there were over 140,000 volunteers who worked 5.9 million hours. That is a remarkable response given to Floridians.

GIACHINO: I know that firsthand because many of them were in my home helping shovel out muck. We had perfect strangers walking up to our door, busloads coming in to help, and it is very humbling.

I want to ask you this Ms. Sayle — I know that you mentioned that when the former Presidents came back from Asia they said that there was a lot going on but a lot of work still needs to be done. Our station is here in the heart of the devastation from Hurricane Ivan and there are many people here struggling with exactly the same thing. And many people frankly do not have the money to rebuild their home — they are fighting with insurance or they are just not getting enough and some have argued that not enough is being done on our own shores here in the United States to help residents in the aftermath of the hurricanes and other natural disasters rather than sending that aid overseas. If I can play devil’s advocate, how would you respond to that criticism?

SAYLE: Well, I would respond by saying that when the President met with the former Presidents he made the clear appeal that Tsunami related aid relief efforts should be in addition to any other giving you give to organizations that support people domestically or other international programs. That message was loud and clear. This should be over and above and not replace your philanthropic giving to your favorite organizations or faith-based organizations but to come up and above so we can continue to support people who suffer here whether it be through our rural communities which continue to have needs or our food programs or programs for the homeless or some of those that help victims of natural disasters. Yes, it does take a long time to recover from situations like the hurricanes that swept through Florida and we want to continue to support those organizations that are coming to the aid of people who are still rebuilding and having problems.

GIACHINO: Volunteering begins at home people say and I know that it needs to begin at a very young age. You mentioned that you have a kids’ portion of your website and I want you to give out the website address again. Can you please tell us about Students in Service to America and the National Guard Challenge Program?

SAYLE: Fantastic. Our National Guard Challenge Program I actually just spoke to last week and was very humbled by the stories of second chances. A lot of organizations are providing them and the Challenge Program is providing them in a unique way. They are a national organization and they saw the problem of youth dropping out of school and they really encouraged them through a military-type style to get re-involved in their lives and back on track and obtain their GED in many cases and go on to college or vocational training. It is one of the many programs that USA Freedom Corps loves to talk about. It goes back to volunteering starting in your community. There are so many opportunities to serve in organizations that provide a lot of the same resources. We are thrilled to talk about the Challenge Program and looking for the organization in your own community that is solving problems that are unique to your location. I think that is something. And as you said, just get involved. It is so rewarding.

Specifically about our youth, I am encouraged because that same study that I mentioned by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics signals that our 16-25 year olds are actually the largest growing volunteer population and we want to do what we can to continue that. And they can serve as great mentors helping out within all aspects.

GIACHINO: Thank you again for your time Ms. Sayle. Please visit their website at www.usafreedomcorps.gov.

SAYLE: My pleasure. Thank you.