President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA)

presidentialserviceawards.gov

What is the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA)?

In 2003, the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation founded the PVSA to recognize the important role of volunteers in America’s strength and national identity and honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation and inspires those around them to take action, too. The PVSA has continued under each administration, honoring the volunteers who are using their time and talents to solve some of the toughest challenges facing our nation.  Click here for more information!

Who is eligible to apply for PVSA at Yuren Chinese School?

  • Yuren Chinese School members (parents of currently active students, teachers, administrative staffs) and their immediate family members; or Non-Yuren members with 60% reporting service hours performed at Yuren Chinese School;
  • Must be United States citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States (i.e., green card holder);
  • Must be at least five years old;
  • Completes eligible service within a 12-month period (for annual Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards) and over a lifetime (for Lifetime Achievement Awards).

Eligible Service: Unpaid acts of volunteer service benefitting others.

  • Service through National service programs that provide a stipend (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) may count towards the Lifetime Achievement Award, but not for the annual Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards)
  • Travel stipends, transit/parking passes, membership passes, expense reimbursements, and other nominal volunteer support do not impact service eligibility

Eligible Service does not include:

  • Donating funds
  • Political lobbying (Non-partisan voter registration is an eligible activity)
  • Religious instruction
  • Conducting worship service
  • Proselytizing
  • Volunteer service performed as part of court-ordered community service
  • Serving only family members
  • Faith-based activities such as activities that take place during the normal worship service are outside the Yuren’s PVSA guidelines. This means that ushering, participation in the choir, playing music, babysitting in the church nursery, or other activities that are practiced during worship hours are not counted.

How to Apply

Candidates must document their volunteer activities and submit the online application form along with supporting documents on or before April 15th. 

1. Complete Online Application form: PVSA Application Form.

2. Email all documents listed below to [email protected] with subject written as “PVSA application – <replace with Applicant’s Full Name here>”:

  • Service Hours Timesheet, download and complete as instructed.
  • scanned PDF or picture of any ONE of the following proofs of US Citizenship or Permanent Residency:
    • Birth Certificate showing birth in the US; or
    • Naturalization/Citizenship Certificate; or
    • Valid unexpired U.S. passport; or
    • Permanent Resident Card/Green Card.
  • Verifying letters from each organization where you served, on the organization’s letterhead. If you have these in hard copy, please scan as a PDF or take a picture and include with your application.

Frequently Asked Questions