Five Talents Director of Development Honored by President Bush

Five Talents Director of Development Joann Barron was honored by President George W. Bush as a member of America’s Army of Compassion at a special ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House on Sept. 8.

“I appreciate the fact that those here represent the hundreds of thousands of our citizens who answered the call to love a neighbor like we'd like to be loved ourselves,” President Bush said during his address honoring volunteerism. “I appreciate the fact that you and others lift up souls, one person at a time. You strengthen the foundation of our democracy, which is the engagement of our people. I want to thank you for what you do.”

Barron, pictured on left, has been a volunteer through the Voluntary Action Center of the Greater Prince William (Va.) Area for more than 17 years. During this time, she also served on the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) board of directors, which is administered through the Voluntary Action Center, and was deputy director of Action in the Community Through Service of Prince William County for 15 years.

“This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” she said. “I felt very privileged and honored to be invited as a member of America’s Army of Compassion.”

Barron has worked at Five Talents since September 2007.

Established in 1999, Five Talents International has provided funding for business training and thousands of loans, ranging from $50 to $300, in 14 countries across Africa, Asia, and Central and South America. Each loan finances a microbusiness that, in turn, supports up to six other people. A majority of the loan recipients are women.

Five Talents’ ongoing work is supported by a staff based in Vienna, Va., an office in London, England, and a program office in Kampala, Uganda. Hundreds of volunteers across the United States and United Kingdom participate in the ministry. For more information and to donate, visit http://www.fivetalents.org/.

To read the full transcript of President Bush’s remarks, visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/09/20080908-6.html.