Bush was in Greensboro to highlight the Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentoring Children of Prisoners program.

He arrived just before 11 a.m. Tuesday morning at Piedmont Triad Airport aboard Air Force One, greeting local dignitaries. But he quickly left the airport to head to Big Brothers Big Sisters in Greensboro.

“I want to thank you for being a part of a program that hopefully is bringing hope to people's lives, I think it is,” Bush said.

Three teens who have an incarcerated parent and their mentors got to meet Bush for a roundtable discussion. The program, Mentoring Children of Prisoners, is something he helped to launch.

“By helping a child, you can really help the country,” Bush said. “You can help yourself by loving, but you help America.”

Bush told the group he hopes others hear of their progress and want to get involved.

“I am hopeful that somebody who watches this show, watches this program realizes that they can make a difference in a child's life," he said. "It doesn't take much.”

This was a short visit for Bush. Including the time spent during the roundtable discussion, the president was in North Carolina for only two hours.