President's Volunteer Service 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 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. On October 24, 2006, California State University, Northridge became an awarding institution. CSUN will now award this prestigious award to clubs, organizations, families, individual students, and community members. This award serves as an example of CSUN's commitment to service and the San Fernando Valley.

About the Award

The President's Volunteer Service Award recognizes individuals, families, and groups that have achieved a certain standard – measured by the number of hours served over a 12-month period or cumulative hours earned over the course of a lifetime. For CSUN students, Clubs and Organizations wishing to participate in the award, the 12-month period will begin. August 1st and end July 31st of the following calendar year. Community members may begin the program at anytime during the year.

Award recipients receive:

  • An official President’s Volunteer Service Award pin.
  • A personalized certificate of achievement.
  • A note of congratulations from the President of the United States.
  • A letter from the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation.


Award Certification Procedure

For the purpose of the President's Volunteer Service Award, a family is any self-designated group of two or more individuals who considers themselves a family. Each member of the family must complete at least 25 hours of service with a family's cumulative hours being at least 200 hours in the 12-month period.

For the purpose of the President's Volunteer Service Award, a group, club or organization is any association of two or more individuals. Each member of the group, club or organization must complete at least 25 hours of service with a group's cumulative hours being at least 200 hours in the 12-month period.



Families, Clubs, and Organizations Allowable Group Sizes

Bronze Silver Gold Lifetime
2-19 2-39 2-40 N/A

*Please note that every member must complete a minimum of 25 hours of service in 12 months.

Example:

17 members X 30 hours in 12 months = 510 hours - Silver Award

Enrollment

Community members, students, groups, families, clubs, and organizations must register by submitting a Presidential Volunteer Service Award Enrollment Form and submitting the form to:
Activities Coordinator for Community and Volunteer Involvement
California State University, Northridge
Matador Involvement Center
18111 Nordhoff Ave.
Northridge, CA 93301-8344
(818) 677-5111

*Enrollment is encouraged in August

Record of Hours Served

Community members, students, groups, families, clubs, and organizations must submit a record of hours served by submitting a Presidential Volunteer Service Award Time Log and submitting the form to:

Activities Coordinator for Community and Volunteer Involvement

California State University, Northridge
Matador Involvement Center
18111 Nordhoff Ave.
Northridge, CA 93301-8344
(818) 677-5111

*Original signatures are required.

Service Activities

For the purpose of the President's Volunteer Service Award the volunteer(s) must participate in at least one of the following four areas of service:

Youth Achievement

Includes volunteer activities such as mentoring, coaching, tutoring improving literacy in areas such as reading and finance, and volunteering to keep young people engaged academically.

Parks and Open Spaces

Includes volunteer efforts to conserve and protect our parklands and gardens, neighborhood cleanups and creating safe playgrounds. It also includes creating safe and meaningful outdoor activities for individuals to enjoy the environment and our natural resources.

Healthy Communities

Includes volunteer efforts to help the elderly, disabled, diseased, hungry or homeless, and to improve the economic health of the community. These could include volunteering for health and nutrition education services, immunizations campaigns, resume building, career training, disease screening, hospital support, blood drives, veterans outreach, working on local public health programs, micro-enterprise, and business development.

Public Safety and Emergency Response
Includes volunteer efforts for individuals and families for individuals and families to make their homes and communities safer from the threats of crime, terrorism, and disasters of all kinds. It includes preparedness training, volunteer firefighters, and programs such as Citizen Corps, Neighborhood Watch, Medical Reserve Corps, and Volunteers in Police Service.

Prohibited Activities

There are certain activities will not count towards the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. The list of Prohibited Activities includes:

  • Participating in efforts that influence legislation.
  • Engaging in partisan political activities or other activities designed to influence the outcome on an election.
  • Organizing or participating in petitions, protests, boycotts or strikes.
  • Conducting worship services.
  • Engaging in religious instruction.
  • Participating in programs that include mandatory religious instruction.
  • Engaging in any type of religious proselytizing.
  • Providing direct benefit to a for-profit entity.
  • Participating in activities that pose a significant risk to participants.
  • Fundraising where less than 100% of proceeds go to non-profit organizations or charity causes.
  • Any volunteering where other incentives are being earned, such as stipends or class credit.


Forms

  • Enrollment Form
  • Record of Hours Served


Important Links

Registration Form
Time Log
PVSA Website

Award Criteria

The following are the eligibility requirements for each age group:
Kids 5-14 years of age
Young Adults 15-25 years of age.

bronze medal
Bronze Level
Kids: 50 to 74 hours
Young Adults: 100 to 174 hours
Adults: 100 to 249 hours
Family & Groups: 200 to 499 hours

silver medal
Silver Level
Kids: 75 to 99 hours
Young Adults: 175 to 249 hours
Adults: 250 to 499 hours
Family & Groups: 500 to 999 hours

gold medal
Gold Level
Kids: 100 hours or more
Young Adults: 250 hours or more
Adults: 500 hours or more
Family & Groups: 1000 hours or more

president medal
President's Call
to Service Award
All Ages
4,000 hours or more of volunteer service (over a lifetime).