Points of Light Celebrates Individuals Taking Action, Solving Problems

Atlanta, April 15, 2015 /3BL Media/ — Points of Light will lead the nation in celebrating ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary things during National Volunteer Week, April 12-18. This annual event honors the people and organizations dedicated to taking action and addressing problems in their communities.

“National Volunteer Week focuses on the power of volunteerism and service,” said Tracy Hoover, CEO, Points of Light. “It is a time of celebration and inspiration as we honor volunteers who take action to strengthen their communities.”

National Volunteer Week draws the support and endorsement of President Barack Obama, who issued a national proclamation, and members of Congress, governors, mayors and municipal leaders, as well as corporate and community groups.

“There are many new ways that people are volunteering their time, voice, social networks, influence and money. From Amir Hakimi, the college student who donates furniture to the homeless, to Jeff Balek, a blind man who helps children improve their reading skills, we celebrate them all during National Volunteer Week,” said Hoover. “We are encouraging volunteers across the country to join the national conversation on volunteerism by sharing their own stories on social media using #NVW2015, as part of our ‘What’s Your Story’ campaign.”

Through programs such as the President's Volunteer Service Award and the Daily Point of Light Award, Points of Light recognizes individuals, families, nonprofit organizations and government entities and the tremendous impact they are making on our country's most critical challenges year-round.

Celebrate with Points of Light. Highlights include:

• April 13: Celebrate Girl Scouts founder and Points of Light national monument (formerly known as the Extra Mile) honoree Juliette Gordon Low, as we tell the story of today’s Daily Point of Light Award winner, Imani Henry. Both demonstrate the power of family and youth volunteering. Fourteen-year-old Imani is the proud CEO of 100 Men Reading, a Wilmington, Delaware-based program designed to bring positive male role models – like the men in her family – into preschools, childcare centers and elementary schools for story time and book giveaways. GenerationOn Celebrity Youth Ambassadors and actresses Emmy Perry (Wiener Dog Internationals) and Emily Robinson (A New York Fairy Tale) will recognize Imani on social media.
• April 14: Honor National Mental Health Association founder and Points of Light national monument honoree Clifford Beers, as we tell the story of today’s Daily Point of Light Award winner, Krystol Stinson. Both demonstrate the power of addressing mental health through volunteer service. Points of Light Service Ambassador and Grammy Award winning poet J. Ivy will recognize Krystol on social media.
• April 15: Celebrate women’s rights advocate and Points of Light national monument honoree Susan B. Anthony, as we tell the story of today’s Daily Point of Light Award winner, Somy Ali. Both demonstrate the power of supporting human and civil rights through volunteer service. Daily Point of Light honoree and ABC News correspondent Rebecca Jarvis will congratulate Somy on social media.
• April 16: More than 60 veterans participating in the Wounded Warrior Projects Soldier Ride at the White House will receive the President’s Volunteer Service Award for Lifetime Achievement, the program’s highest distinction, for serving more than 4,000 volunteer hours during their lifetimes. “It will be a great honor and privilege to pin our veteran heroes with the President’s Volunteer Service Award for Lifetime Achievement, and to bring national attention to the importance of service to our country,” said Bill Basl, director of AmeriCorps, Corporation for National and Community Service. 
• April 16: Honor Points of Light national monument honoree Edgar Allen as we tell the story of today’s Daily Point of Light Award winner, Tony Heath. Both demonstrate the entrepreneurial spirit of volunteer service. UPS employee by day, Tony is also the founder of the Better Living Center, which assists low-income residents by providing food in an area with no grocery stores, helping with job searches, providing clothing, offering health education and screenings, and striving to provide individual solutions to individual challenges. Daily Point of Light honoree and Detroit Lions football player Israel Idonije will recognize Tony on social media. ​
• April 17: Celebrate United Farm Workers of America founder and Points of Light national monument honoree Cesar Chavez, as we tell the story of today’s Daily Point of Light Award winner, Miles Lin. Both demonstrate the power of improving quality of life for those in need. Daily Point of Light honoree and celebrity chef Jose Andres will congratulate Miles. Forrest Wheeler and Ian Chen, young actors from Fresh Off the Boat, will also congratulate Miles on social media.
• April 18: At a Block Party in Los Angeles, Points of Light and generationOn will recognize Hasbro Community Action Heroes who are making a difference in their local communities, and WME (William Morris Endeavor) for their commitment to youth and arts education in communities around the world. Many young celebrities including The Foster’s Ashley Argota; Girl Meets World’s Rowan Blanchard, Corey Fogelmanis and August Maturo; Parenthood’s Tyree Brown and Xolo Maridueña; and Dog with a Blog’s Francesca Capaldi will join families at the Block Party to help amplify the call for kids to make their mark on the world through service.

What's Your Story? During National Volunteer Week, Points of Light encourages you to share your volunteer stories across social media - Twitter, Instagram and Facebook - #NVW2015

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About Points of Light

Points of Light—the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service—mobilizes millions of people to take action that is changing the world. Through affiliates in 250 cities and partnerships with thousands of non-profits and corporations, Points of Light engages four million volunteers in 30 million hours of service each year. We bring the power of people to bear where it’s needed most. For more information, go to www.pointsoflight.org.