President's Call to Service Award
The President's Call to Service Award is awarded by the President of the United States to people who have completed more than 4,000 hours of community service. It is the highest level of the President's Volunteer Service Award.[1][2]
Background
The President's Council on Service and Civic Participation, which administers the award, was established within the Corporation for National and Community Service through a 2003 executive order by President George W. Bush.[3][4] The President's Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) encourages citizens to live a life of service. The award is offered in four categories depending on amount of service, including Bronze, Silver, Gold and the "President's Call to Service Award" (referred to as the "President's Lifetime Achievement Award"). Depending on the level of service, awardees may receive a personalized certificate, an official pin, medallion, and/or a congratulatory letter from the President.[5]
In order for a person to receive this award, he or she must have contributed his/ her volunteer hours under the auspices of a Certifying Organization/ Leadership Organization. That organization must submit an application on behalf of the intended recipient, a record of the volunteer's hours, and a payment to the PVSA. The Organization must be based in the United States or Puerto Rico. The award is not competitive, and there are no other requirements.
Notable recipients
While numerous Americans have been awarded some degree of the President's Volunteer Service Award, comparatively few have been awarded the highest honor - the President's Call to Service Award (also referred to as the President's Lifetime Achievement Award).
Past recipients of the award include:
- 2004: Frank Shankwitz, Founder of Make A Wish Foundation[6]
- 2005: Zach Bonner[7]
- 2006 Lina Gilliland, Founder of NACAM Firm Inc [8]
- 2008: S. Truett Cathy[9]
- 2014: Betsy Thies, 47-year volunteer at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden[10][11][12]
References
- "The President's Volunteer Service Award". Archived from the original on June 10, 2009. Retrieved June 10, 2009.
- "The President's Volunteer Service Award". presidentialserviceawards.gov. Retrieved 2014-09-13.
- "2nd look at Bush service award / White House panel unaware honoree was on Death Row - SFGate". sfgate.com. Retrieved 2014-09-13.
- "President's Volunteer Service Award". presidentialserviceawards.gov. Retrieved 2014-09-13.
- "The Award". www.presidentialserviceawards.gov. Archived from the original on 18 December 2015. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
- Shankwitz. "President's Call to Service Award". Archived from the original on 2016-09-11.
- "About our Founder". Archived from the original on 2016-06-23. Retrieved 2016-09-05.
In 2006 Zach received the "Presidential Call to Service Award" from President Bush
- "NACAM Firm Inc. – Making Indian Country Strong". nacamfirm.com. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
- "S. Truett Cathy applauded by President Bush". Atlanta Business Chronicle. Retrieved 2014-09-13.
- "Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Image Library". www.sbbgphotos.org. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
- "Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Image Library". www.sbbgphotos.org. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
- Windhager, Steve (Fall 2015). "Director's Message" (PDF). Ironwood. Retrieved 2020-02-13.