Award Season

The Oscars may be over, but the service award season has just begun.

Spirit of Service Awards

The federal Corporation for National and Community Service is committed to recognizing and celebrating outstanding service by their volunteers. The Spirit of Service Awards pay tribute to the most outstanding participants in each of the Corporation’s programs - including Senior Corps (RSVP, Senior Companion, Foster Grandparent), AmeriCorps and Learn and Serve America. Awards are presented to the winners during special ceremonies at the 2009 National Conference on Volunteering and Service, June 22-24, in San Francisco, CA. Nominations are currently being sought, and nominees must exemplify the spirit of national service, demonstrate exceptional service or leadership, and serve as role models for others in their community.

RSVP's partners are encouraged to participate in recognizing the work of RSVP volunteers at their organization by contacting their local RSVP office to nominate a volunteer.

To read more about the 2008 winners, click here.

Minerva Awards

California women have inspiring stories of service to share. Each year, we hear a few at the October Women's Conference (hosted by California's First Lady, Maria Shriver) where Minerva Award winners are recognized. If you are inspired by the service of a colleague, friend, or grandmother, consider recognizing their work with a nomination.

Read about last year's Minerva Award winners here.
Make a recommendation for the next Minerva Awards here.

Purpose Prize

A prize of a different kind, the Purpose Prize comes with a $100,000 award for social innovators, who are 60 and older. Winners are leaders in a larger Encore Career movement that allows experience adults to earn, learn, connect and contribute.

Hurry! The deadline is March 5, 2009!

Winners include people like:

• Gary Maxworthy, a former food distributor who developed a new process for bringing over 38 million pounds of fresh produce to California's food banks.


• Sally Bingham, 67, a homemaker-turned-Episcopal priest, who organized a national religious response to global warming.


• Gordon Johnson, 75, who won $100,000 for his successes in keeping siblings united in foster care instead of further traumatizing them through separation.

To read about winners and fellows, click here.
To nominate or apply now, click here.