President's Call to Service Award

Not to be confused with President's Volunteer 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]

Recipients must have contributed their 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 the Make-A-Wish Foundation[6]
• 2005: Zach Bonner, founder of the Little Red Wagon Foundation[7]
• 2008: S. Truett Cathy[8]
• 2014: Betsy Thies, 47-year volunteer at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden[9][10][11]
• 2017: Dee Dawkins-Haigler, former member of the Georgia House of Representatives[12]
• 2023: Dr. William Banfield, composer, educator, and author[13]
• 2024: Ibrahim Garza, banker, author, entrepreneur[14]

References

1. "The President's Volunteer Service Award". Archived from the original on June 10, 2009. Retrieved June 10, 2009.
2. "The President's Volunteer Service Award". presidentialserviceawards.gov. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
3. "2nd look at Bush service award / White House panel unaware honoree was on Death Row - SFGate". sfgate.com. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
4. "President's Volunteer Service Award". presidentialserviceawards.gov. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
5. "The Award". www.presidentialserviceawards.gov. Archived from the original on December 18, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
6. Shankwitz. "President's Call to Service Award". Archived from the original on September 11, 2016.
7. "About our Founder". Archived from the original on June 23, 2016. Retrieved September 5, 2016. In 2006 Zach received the "Presidential Call to Service Award" from President Bush
8. "S. Truett Cathy applauded by President Bush". Atlanta Business Chronicle. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
9. "Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Image Library". www.sbbgphotos.org. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
10. "Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Image Library". www.sbbgphotos.org. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
11. Windhager, Steve (Fall 2015). "Director's Message" (PDF). Ironwood. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
12. "Dawkins-Haigler honored with President's Lifetime Achievement Award". January 20, 2017.
13. Shulze, Talia (October 25, 2023). "Composer and Educator Bill Banfield to Receive "President's Call to Service" Award". Symphony. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
14. Gonzalez, Roberto H. (February 5, 2024). "Valley Innovator Ibrahim Garza Earns President's Lifetime Achievement Award for Financial Literacy Initiative". Texas Border Business. Retrieved April 17, 2024.