CaliforniaVolunteers is pleased to announce the 2013 Governor’s Volunteering and Service Awards. Nominations are now open for individuals, AmeriCorps members, service groups, foundations, businesses and nonprofit leaders whose innovation in the field of service and volunteerism has had a tangible impact on their community, region and the state of California. http://www.californiavolunteers.org/index.php/gvsa/

 

Nominate Online »   To view past recipients of the Governor's Volunteering and Service Awards, visit our previous winners page.

Categories

California’s Business Volunteer Program of the Year: Honoring an outstanding California business with an innovative, high-impact employee volunteer program.

California’s Small Business Volunteer Program of the Year: Honoring an outstanding California small business with an innovative, high-impact employee volunteer program.

California’s Foundation of the Year: Honoring a California-based foundation that has made a successful investment in service and volunteering models in addressing community needs.

California’s Nonprofit of the Year:  Honoring a California nonprofit who has shown an extraordinary ability to leverage volunteers in service to their organization.

California’s Faith-based Organization of the Year: Honoring an outstanding faith-based organization which actively engages volunteers in addressing community needs.

California’s Disaster Volunteer Program of the Year: Honoring an outstanding California disaster volunteer program that has demonstrated an unwavering service commitment to the local community.

California’s AmeriCorps Member of the Year:  Honoring a California AmeriCorps member who has made a substantial impact to their community.

California’s Volunteer of the Year: Honoring an outstanding Californian whose volunteer service is exemplary and inspirational.

Eligibility

• Nominees must have had a significant impact on their community, region and/or the state of California through the act of volunteerism.
• All nominees must carry out the majority of their volunteer service in California. Individual nominees must reside in California. Businesses and Foundations must be based in or have a significant presence in California. Nonprofit leaders’ organizations must be based in California.
• Nominees must have exhibited creative leadership, and consistent commitment to one or more cause.
• Nominees should be seen as innovators in the field of volunteerism, not solely “good at” implementing traditional best practices.
• Nominees should support or create opportunities for other Californians to serve.
• Nominations may be submitted by the nominees themselves or by a third party.
• Winners must attend the presentation of the awards in person at the Governor’s Volunteering and Service Awards presentation event, May 22, 2013.

How to Submit

Nominations must be received by CaliforniaVolunteers no later than 5:00 pm on Friday, April 19th, 2013. Online submissions are strongly encouraged; mail-in nominations are acceptable.

 

Online: Please submit the online form and email the letter of support and optional attachments to .

 

Mail-in:    Mail-in nominations are acceptable and can be mailed to: CaliforniaVolunteers   Governor’s Volunteering and Service Award Nominations   770 L Street, Suite 1160    Sacramento, CA 95814

Award Presentation

The 2013 Governor’s Volunteering and Service Awards will be held in Sacramento on Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013. Travel for the awardee and one guest (including air/ground transportation, accommodations, and meals) to the awards ceremony will be paid by CaliforniaVolunteers.

Rules and Guidelines

1. Nominations must be received by CaliforniaVolunteers no later than 5:00 pm on Friday, April 19th, 2013. All nominations must be completed, on time, in their entirety. Partial and/or late nominations and late letters of support and additional materials will not be accepted.
2. Online nominations are strongly encouraged and should be submitted via the CaliforniaVolunteers.org website. Mail-in nominations are acceptable and can be mailed to: CaliforniaVolunteers / Governor’s Volunteering and Service Award Nominations / 770 L Street, Suite 1160 / Sacramento, CA 95814.
3. Open only to residents of California. Void where prohibited by law. Employees of CaliforniaVolunteers, their respective subgrantees, subcontractors, jurisdictions, affiliates, advertising/promotional agencies, vendors and the members of the immediate family or those living in the same household of such individuals are ineligible. Limit one award per person, family, household, business or organization. Award winners must provide proof of legal California residency.
4. Nominees must have had a significant, measurable impact on their community, region and/or the state of California through the act of volunteerism. All nominees must carry out the majority of their volunteer service in California. Individual nominees must reside in California. Businesses, Service Groups, Foundations and Nonprofits must be based in or have a significant presence in California.
5. Nominees must have exhibited creativity, compassion, leadership, and consistent commitment to one or more cause. Nominees should be seen as innovators in the field of volunteerism, not solely “good at” implementing traditional best practices. Nominees should support or create opportunities for other Californians to serve.
6. Nominations may be submitted by the nominees themselves or by a third party.
7. Separate nomination packets may be submitted for as many nominees as desired. Nominating multiple volunteers in the same role, in the same organization will not increase the likelihood of an award. Nominating the same nominee multiple times and/or in multiple categories will not increase the likelihood of an award.
8. All nominations must include a letter of support from someone other than the Nominator or the Nominee. This letter should be attached as a Word or PDF document, if submitting the nomination online. If submitting a mail-in nomination, this letter should be mailed with the nomination form and not sent separately.
9. Additional materials are optional. They can include additional relevant information about the nominee, additional letters of support, photos, testimonials, news clippings, pamphlets, etc. PDF documents are preferred; Word documents are acceptable. If submitting the nomination online, additional materials should be sent to: . The subject line of the email should read: “Additional Materials: (Nominee Name)”.
10. Electronic additional materials (video, CD, etc.) are acceptable and should be included as part of a mail-in nomination. Electronic materials should be no longer than 5 minutes in length.
11. Please tell the nominee that they have been nominated for a Governor’s Volunteering and Service Award.
12. Nominations will be reviewed and winners selected by a committee comprised of the Governor’s staff, community members, and CaliforniaVolunteers staff. Decisions of the selection committee are final. Award recipients will be notified in early May.
13. Winners will receive an award to be presented in at the Governor’s Volunteering and Service Awards Presentation Event May 22nd, 2013. Winners are required to attend the Presentation Event in order to receive their award in-person; travel and accommodations for award recipients will be paid by CaliforniaVolunteers in accordance with the State of California per diem rates and reimbursement policies.
14. By submitting nomination, participants agree to all rules as set forth in the Official Rules and Guidelines. Participants agree that all nominations become the sole property of CaliforniaVolunteers and may be reproduced in whole or in part (i.e. modified and / or edited in any form whatsoever) by CaliforniaVolunteers without further compensation or notification. By submitting a nomination, participants attest that they are eligible according to the Official Rules and Guidelines and that their nomination is truthful and authentic. Failure to comply with requirements will result in forfeiture of the award. Awards will then be given to the next highest judged nomination. Nominators may have access to their entry at any time via CaliforniaVolunteers by emailing as provided by the Information Practices Act.
15. For a list of award winners, visit www.CaliforniaVolunteers.org on or after May 31, 2013.