CLEVELAND -- When President George W. Bush arrived in Cleveland Tuesday, he met a local volunteer and grandmother.

Gerris Farris, 63, was picked to meet the president because of her community involvement, NewsChannel5 reported.

Images: Local Grandmother Meets President

When Bush got off Airforce One, he walked over to Farris and the two of them had a brief conversation before posing for photos.

Farris volunteers with Experience Corps, a program of RSVP of Greater Cleveland. For three years she has been a mentor and tutor for fifth-grade students at Scranton Elementary School.

"Something I always tell the children, people are paying attention to you so you have to be the best that you can be. People do pay attention regardless," Farris said.

For the retired grandmother, volunteering is a full-time activity. Her dedication earned her a meeting with Bush.

"I never really met one and shook one's hand, so I'm quite thrilled," she said.

Farris also faced her own battle with cancer.

"I went into a nursing home, got myself together, came back, got back up on my feet and grabbed my students," she said.

Farris hoped to grab the attention of the White House.

I'm going to ask him for much more money for books, that each child should have books to take home so they can do their homework," she said. "His concern should be my concern and my concern should be his concern, and our concern should be the children."

Farris was told to be ready to meet the president by 10 a.m.

Bush honors a local volunteer when he travels throughout the United States. He met with more than 575 individuals around the country since March 2002.