President’s Volunteer Service Award

“Nowhere is our unity more evident than in the actions of our volunteer and charitable organizations that rally to their neighbors’ aid.” —President Donald J. Trump

About the Award In 2003, President Bush created the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation to find ways to recognize the valuable contributions volunteers are making in our nation. The council brings together leaders from the worlds of business, entertainment, sports, education, government, nonprofit, and the media.

The President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation created the President’s Volunteer Service Award Program as a way to thank and honor Americans who, by their demonstrated commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service.

Recognizing and honoring volunteers sets a standard for service to others. It encourages a sustained commitment to civic participation and inspires others to make volunteering a central part of their lives. The President’s Volunteer Service Award is a Presidential recognition program for Americans of all ages, who contribute a significant amount of time to volunteer service. The program recognizes individuals, families, and groups that have achieved a certain standard - measured by the number of hours served over a 12-month period.

Guidelines To earn an award, individuals, families and groups must keep a record of volunteer activities and hours served. This Record of Service may be kept as a diary or calendar or tracked online using the USA Freedom Corps Record of Service. Individuals must submit their records to the State Fraternal Director who will review and verify their records and order and distribute the award. To be recognized, service activities should meet national or community needs in the areas of youth achievement, parks and open spaces, healthy communities, and public safety and emergency response.

Activities should be unpaid and may not include court-ordered community service. Only one award may be received for the previous year of service.

What Do Recipients Receive? Award recipients receive: a An official President’s Volunteer Service Award pin a A personalized certificate of achievement a A note of congratulations from the President of the

United States a A letter from the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation

How do I apply for the President’s Volunteer Service Awards? The SPJST Youth Program is sponsoring the President’s Volunteer Service Awards for all SPJST youth who are eligible to receive the awards. No youth may receive more than one President’s Volunteer Service Awards during the preceding calendar year. SPJST will recognize youth for volunteer service during January 1 through December 31. Members will track their volunteer hours and send them to the Home Office. Forms to track hours are available online at www.spjst.org or from the Home Office Youth Department. Volunteer hours should be sent to the Home Office by March 31. If you have any questions, please contact the SPJST Youth Department at 800727-7578 or email State Fraternal Director Frank Horak at frankh@spjst.com.