Each week we highlight another Illinois volunteer for giving back to their community. Let us know who deserves to be recognized as Illinois' Volunteer of the Week!
Serve Illinois presents "The Governor's Volunteer Service Awards". These awards recognize individual volunteers through a statewide award program to highlight the importance of volunteerism and community service in the State of Illinois.
Presented continuously from 1983 to 2014 and then 2017 to present, the Governor’s Hometown Awards (GHTA) program gives formal recognition to those who contributed to projects that improved their community’s quality of life. These projects are sponsored by local units of government that had strong volunteer support, met a need, and made a definitive impact, thereby generating a positive outcome in the community and by extension, the state. The program is administered by the Serve Illinois Commission, the Governor’s Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service.
Serve Illinois, the Governor’s Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service, is excited to be able to tie GHTA to its mission to improve Illinois communities by enhancing volunteerism and instilling an ethic of service throughout the State.
National Volunteer Awards
There are several awards for individuals and programs in the National Service field, available through the Corporation for National and Community Service. The top recipients in each category are often recognized at the National Conference on Volunteering and Service each summer.
Volunteers can also track their service hours and apply for a President's Volunteer Service Award, available through USA Freedom Corps. This presidential initiative was launched as part of the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation in 2003 and is appropriate for those serving a certain number of hours per year in a registered volunteer program.
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Other Awards
Many corporations and other private/service organizations recognize volunteerism on a local, state and/or national level. The Commission is always interested in helping recognize and promote awareness of such awards. Those programs known at this time are available by following the links below:
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