Presidential Volunteer Service Award

  In his 2002 State of the Union address, President George W. Bush issued a challenge to all Americans to make time to help their neighbors, communities, and Nation through service. He called on each person to dedicate at least 4,000 hours - or two years - to service over the course of their lives. He created the USA Freedom Corps to help all Americans answer his call to service and help foster a culture of service, citizenship, and responsibility.

            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, nonprofits, 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 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.

To date, the President's Council has partnered with more than 76 Leadership Organizations and more than 14,000 Certifying Organizations to bestow more than 400,000 awards to the Nation's deserving volunteers.

The Award

Depending on criteria met, award recipients can receive:

    * An official President's Volunteer Service Award lapel pin

    * A personalized certificate of achievement

    * A congratulatory letter from the President of the United States

    * A letter from the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation

 

Award Criteria

Any individual can receive Presidential recognition for volunteer hours earned over a 12-month period. The following are the eligibility requirements for each age group:

Presidential Volunteer Service Bronze Level

                        Junior and Intermediate 4-Hers: 50 to 74 hours

Senior 4-Hers: 100 to 174 hours

Presidential Volunteer Service Silver Level

Junior and Intermediate 4-Hers: 75 to 99 hours

Senior 4-Hers: 175 to 249 hours

Presidential Volunteer Service Gold Level

                        Junior and Intermediate 4-Hers: 100 hours or more

Senior 4-Hers: 250 hours or more

President's Call to Service Award

4,000 hours or more of volunteer service (over a lifetime).

 

What is a Record of Service?

A Record of Service is a private journal of your volunteer time and experiences in response to President Bush's call to service. You can keep a record of your activities serving your neighbor, your community, your country and the world. Return as often as you'd like to keep your record of service updated online. To create your Record of Service, follow the four easy steps below.

 

Are you a junior or intermediate 4-H member?

Kids under 14 years old can earn the President's Volunteer Service Award by completing 50 or more hours of volunteer service in one year. The sooner you get started, the sooner you will qualify!  Ask your parent or guardian to help you keep track of your volunteer hours using our Record of Service Page, and get started now!

 

Are you a Senior 4-H member? 

You may either complete our Record of Service Page or create an online record of service (https://www.presidentialserviceawards.gov/tgact/ros/dspROSlogin.cfm).  The Denton County 4-H record of service key is: XTH-33417.

Step 1:            Enter a username (we recommend your email address*):

            Step 2:            Create a password:

                                    Re-enter your password:

Step 3:            Enter your first name:

                                    Enter your last name:

                                    Enter your age:

                                    Enter E-mail address:

Step 4:            Click the button below to start recording your volunteer time and experiences.

* Your e-mail address is only used because it is the best way for you to sign in with a unique identity that's easy to remember. No e-mail will be sent to you unless you ask for it. We do not share e-mail addresses with third-parties, other than to manage our database. Please see our Privacy and Security information.