President's Volunteer Service Award
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Did you know that Generation SERVE is a President's Volunteer Service Award certifying site for Texas families?
We present this special award to youth volunteers ages 5 to 19 years old who accomplish a truly impressive number of service hours through Generation SERVE within the service year. To qualify for the PVSA, youth volunteers must fulfill the minimum hour requirements designated for their respective age groups. Please refer to the table below.
To be eligible for the award via Generation SERVE, youth volunteers must fulfill a portion of their service hours through Generation SERVE coordinated activities. Please refer to the table below for details.
Important Information
Our PVSA service year runs from June 1st, 2024 - May 31st, 2025 to reflect our youth volunteers' academic calendar. This means that hours served either through Generation SERVE or with another organization before June 1, 2024 will not apply towards the current PVSA service year. We cannot make any exceptions. Please see below for PVSA and Outside Hours frequently asked questions (FAQs). To learn more about the President's Volunteer Service Award, visit their website. |
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PVSA and Outside Hours FAQs
Are you a certifying organization for the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA)?
Yes, we are a President's Volunteer Service Award certifying organization for Texas families.
When does your service year for the PVSA begin?
As of Spring of 2024, Generation SERVE is moving from a calendar service year to an academic service year to better align the needs of the organization and our school-aged volunteers. Our new service year runs from June 1 to May 31. Generation SERVE orders awards once per year (usually in late June) for volunteers aged 19 and younger, according to PVSA age requirements.
Since this switch in our service year is transitioning in Spring 2024, we will not be accepting outside service hours towards the PVSA until June 1, 2024, and all hours submitted should be completed from that same date on. All hours served via Generation SERVE in-person and SERVE at Home activities will still be recorded in your volunteer record, but will not count towards our PVSA timing.
Since this switch in our service year is transitioning in Spring 2024, we will not be accepting outside service hours towards the PVSA until June 1, 2024, and all hours submitted should be completed from that same date on. All hours served via Generation SERVE in-person and SERVE at Home activities will still be recorded in your volunteer record, but will not count towards our PVSA timing.
Which age group does my child fall in for PVSA?
Youth should be counted in the age group they are in for the majority of the service year, which for Generation SERVE runs from June 1 to May 31. Therefore, the halfway point is November 29. Please see the table above for the required number of hours for each age group.
How many hours do I need to qualify for the PVSA?
The PVSA has three levels based on the number of service hours completed within a year: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. The required hours vary by age group. Youth should be counted in the age group they are in for the majority of the service year, which for Generation SERVE runs from June 1 to May 31. Therefore, the halfway point is November 29. Please see the table above for the required number of hours for each age group.
Additionally, the Lifetime Achievement Award requires 4,000+ hours of service for all ages.
Additionally, the Lifetime Achievement Award requires 4,000+ hours of service for all ages.
What if your service year doesn’t work for me?
Unfortunately, we cannot modify our service year to fit individual needs, but you may be able to find another certifying organization that works for you.
If you are in the Travis County area, you might also consider applying for the award through UT Austin using any 12 month time frame. You can find more information about that HERE to see if your situation fits. You might also be able to apply for the PVSA through Volunteer Scholars, which roughly follows a school year and the following summer, from September 1 through August 31.
If you go through another certifying organization instead of Generation SERVE, please note you cannot earn a service award through both organizations for the overlapping periods of time. For example, if you earn a service award from Generation SERVE for service year Jan 1, 2023- Dec 31, 2023, you cannot then also apply for an award through UT for October 1, 2023-September 30, 2024.
If you are in the Travis County area, you might also consider applying for the award through UT Austin using any 12 month time frame. You can find more information about that HERE to see if your situation fits. You might also be able to apply for the PVSA through Volunteer Scholars, which roughly follows a school year and the following summer, from September 1 through August 31.
If you go through another certifying organization instead of Generation SERVE, please note you cannot earn a service award through both organizations for the overlapping periods of time. For example, if you earn a service award from Generation SERVE for service year Jan 1, 2023- Dec 31, 2023, you cannot then also apply for an award through UT for October 1, 2023-September 30, 2024.
How do I apply to receive the President’s Volunteer Service Award?
Generation SERVE automatically submits hours for all of our qualified youth volunteers aged 19 and younger, so there is no need to apply to receive the award. If you have volunteer hours from outside organizations you’d like included in your records, please see the FAQ on submitting outside service hours completed during the relevant service year.
How can I be sure all my volunteer hours completed with Generation SERVE are recorded?
You can check your volunteer history using your dashboard in your Volunteer Account (for instructions, see HERE.)
Attendance is taken at in-person Generation SERVE activities, so you should see those hours reflected in your totals within 48 hours of the event. For our SERVE at Home activities, please use our SERVE at Home form provided in the confirmation email you received for the activity and allow up to 10 business days for those to appear in your volunteer history. Please see FAQ about outside hours submission for those details.
Attendance is taken at in-person Generation SERVE activities, so you should see those hours reflected in your totals within 48 hours of the event. For our SERVE at Home activities, please use our SERVE at Home form provided in the confirmation email you received for the activity and allow up to 10 business days for those to appear in your volunteer history. Please see FAQ about outside hours submission for those details.
Can you provide me with a report of my child’s total hours served?
In many cases, you can use the Volunteer History section of your dashboard in your Volunteer Account to print or save a record of hours served to suit your needs (for instructions, see HERE).
If your needs are more specific or require a signature, we will gladly provide up to two comprehensive reports per year for each child. These reports will offer an overview of the accumulated volunteer hours during the specified periods. We encourage you to request reports strategically, such as at mid-year and year-end, to capture a comprehensive view of your child's volunteer activities.
If your needs are more specific or require a signature, we will gladly provide up to two comprehensive reports per year for each child. These reports will offer an overview of the accumulated volunteer hours during the specified periods. We encourage you to request reports strategically, such as at mid-year and year-end, to capture a comprehensive view of your child's volunteer activities.
How do I submit SERVE at Home hours?
Follow the directions in the confirmation email for the specific SERVE at Home activity you completed and use our SERVE at Home form to verify your participation and request your “attendance” be recorded. Please allow 10-14 business days for your hours to appear on your account.
Do I need to complete and submit my SERVE at Home service hours by the date on the activity calendar?
Some SERVE at Home opportunities have specific due dates included in the posting, and the submission of those hours should follow those instructions to ensure we fulfill the nonprofit partner’s needs in a timely manner.
All other SERVE at Home hours should be completed within a month of the calendar listing or within 7 days of the event, whichever time frame is longer. Follow the directions in the confirmation email for the specific SERVE at Home for submission and use our SERVE at Home form.
All other SERVE at Home hours should be completed within a month of the calendar listing or within 7 days of the event, whichever time frame is longer. Follow the directions in the confirmation email for the specific SERVE at Home for submission and use our SERVE at Home form.
What kind of photo should I provide for verification of my participation in a SERVE at Home activity?
The photos you submit should clearly demonstrate your engagement in the specified SERVE at Home activity. The purpose of the photo verification is to celebrate your efforts and showcase the meaningful contributions you are making. Different photos should be taken for each activity completed.
Here are a few tips to help guide your photo submissions:
Here are a few tips to help guide your photo submissions:
- Relevance: Ensure that the photo directly relates to the SERVE at Home activity in question.
- Action-oriented: Capture moments that showcase you actively participating in the activity, whether it's crafting, organizing, or any other form of service.
- Date and Time: If possible, include a timestamp or date in the photo to provide additional context.
What if I don’t see the SERVE at Home hours I submitted on my account?
Hours are entered manually by our staff and processed in the order submitted, so please be patient with us as we process the data as efficiently as we can.
Please allow at least 14 business days for SERVE at Home hours to appear on your account. The service hours will appear on your account after the date the activity is listed on the calendar, so if you submit them in a very early window, you may wait longer than 14 days to see them.
Please allow at least 14 business days for SERVE at Home hours to appear on your account. The service hours will appear on your account after the date the activity is listed on the calendar, so if you submit them in a very early window, you may wait longer than 14 days to see them.
Do you accept additional service hours from outside organizations?
We do accept hours from outside organizations, however, each volunteer must meet a minimum number of hours via Generation SERVE in order for us to apply on your behalf. These requirements are set by age group (see table above).
Because our service year begins June 1st, we will begin accepting outside hours that are both completed and submitted after that date. Hours served before that date are not eligible for submission at any time. Outside hours must also be deemed as eligible according to the President's Volunteer Service Award guidelines.
Proof of hours served must be provided on letterhead or an official document from the partner agency. This documentation should confirm that the service hours have been completed. Please note that confirmation emails to participate in upcoming activities are not accepted as verification of hours served.
Because our service year begins June 1st, we will begin accepting outside hours that are both completed and submitted after that date. Hours served before that date are not eligible for submission at any time. Outside hours must also be deemed as eligible according to the President's Volunteer Service Award guidelines.
Proof of hours served must be provided on letterhead or an official document from the partner agency. This documentation should confirm that the service hours have been completed. Please note that confirmation emails to participate in upcoming activities are not accepted as verification of hours served.
How can I submit my OUTSIDE service hours?
We ask that hours served for other organizations that are not coordinated through Generation SERVE be reported using our PVSA Outside Hours form. Please allow 10-14 business days for the hours to appear on your account.
These forms may be closed occasionally throughout our service year while we are processing submissions. Please hold submissions during these times and check back in a few weeks.
These forms may be closed occasionally throughout our service year while we are processing submissions. Please hold submissions during these times and check back in a few weeks.
When do I need to submit my OUTSIDE service hours?
In order to meet requirements of the PVSA award, volunteer hours must be recorded in a timely fashion using our PVSA Outside Hours form.
Outside service hours should be submitted quarterly to be considered for the PVSA. Please see below for specific dates.
June-August outside hours should be submitted by September 14th.
September-November outside hours should be submitted by December 14th.
December-February outside hours should be submitted by March 14th.
March-May outside hours should be submitted by June 14th.
Outside service hours should be submitted quarterly to be considered for the PVSA. Please see below for specific dates.
June-August outside hours should be submitted by September 14th.
September-November outside hours should be submitted by December 14th.
December-February outside hours should be submitted by March 14th.
March-May outside hours should be submitted by June 14th.
How can I be sure my hours served through an outside organization count towards the PVSA and are accepted by Generation SERVE?
Please make sure to read the President's Volunteer Service Award guidelines to ensure that your outside service hours are eligible under their guidelines for qualified activities.
Proof of hours served must be provided on letterhead or an official document from the partner agency. This documentation should confirm that the service hours have been completed. Please note that confirmation emails to participate in upcoming activities are not accepted as verification of hours served.
Proof of hours served must be provided on letterhead or an official document from the partner agency. This documentation should confirm that the service hours have been completed. Please note that confirmation emails to participate in upcoming activities are not accepted as verification of hours served.
I have not accumulated enough hours for the PVSA, should I still submit my volunteer hours served with outside organizations?
To streamline the certification process and reduce unnecessary administrative work, we kindly request that volunteers assess their accumulated hours periodically throughout the year. If, by the end of the service year, it becomes evident that the minimum hour requirements for the next relevant PVSA level will not be met, we encourage you to consider whether submitting those hours is essential. This approach helps us focus our resources on processing certifications efficiently and ensures that volunteers receive timely recognition for their achievements.
Our 2023 President's Volunteer Service Award Recipients
The 2023 recipients of the President's Volunteer Service Awards collectively volunteered 8.897 hours.
These 117 youth helped over 70 nonprofits achieve their missions!
These 117 youth helped over 70 nonprofits achieve their missions!
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Ages 5-10
47 elementary school aged children volunteered 2040 hours! Izzah S. - Gold Award Uzma K. -Gold Award Shelly K. -Gold Award Aishwarya R. -Gold Award Eva B. -Gold Award Mattias T. -Gold Award Shaya M. -Silver Award Haroun B. - Silver Award Chasity C. - Silver Award Sophia H. - Silver Award Neeya M. - Silver Award Dev R. - Silver Award Sai R. - Silver Award Elliott F. - Silver Award Haley L. - Bronze Award Will E. - Bronze Award Soledad R. - Bronze Award Adalynn L. - Bronze Award Vihaan V. - Bronze Award Alaika B. - Bronze Award Nirbhuy A. - Bronze Award Zoha K. - Bronze Award Riya K. - Bronze Award Alaya M. - Bronze Award Zeeana M. - Bronze Award Estella L. - Bronze Award Adam C. - Bronze Award Liam C. - Bronze Award Karina P. - Bronze Award Eva M. - Bronze Award Ned D. - Bronze Award John Clayton D. - Bronze Award Everett S. - Bronze Award Maira M. - Bronze Award Zara A. - Bronze Award Ayat K. - Bronze Award Ky W. - Bronze Award Lilly S. - Bronze Award Nihara S. - Bronze Award Salwa H. - Bronze Award Elliott S. - Bronze Award Caroline P. - Bronze Award Eshal K. - Bronze Award Riaan G. - Bronze Award Vibha B. - Bronze Award Isaac S. - Bronze Award Sofia E. - Bronze Award |
Ages 11-15
5346 volunteer hours provided by 60 youth! Avery K. - Gold Award Anokhi S. - Gold Award Jewel K. - Gold Award Jordan M. - Gold Award Saloni C. - Gold Award Sailee C. - Gold Award Viraj G. - Gold Award Sharon J. - Gold Award Uzair K. - Gold Award Asha D. - Gold Award Toby Y. - Gold Award Zaeem A. - Gold Award Neha R. - Gold Award Atharva A. - Gold Award Jaxon R. - Gold Award Dalia K. - Gold Award Owen L. - Gold Award Luke W. - Gold Award Emily S. - Gold Award June W. - Gold Award Harper Q. - Gold Award Alex M. - Gold Award Shivani R. - Gold Award Paarth B. - Gold Award Mahita B. - Gold Award Dhiya B. - Gold Award Arnav S. - Gold Award Elana C. - Gold Award Ornith J - Gold Award Arjun D. - Silver Award Melvin J. - Silver Award Sophia G. - Silver Award Anwitha J. - Silver Award KC W. - Silver Award Aurelia S. - Silver Award Astrid Q. - Silver Award Ethan W. - Silver Award Blake B. - Bronze Award Misha B. - Bronze Award Jayden K. - Bronze Award Kenya C. - Bronze Award Vaani M. - Bronze Award Evan W. - Bronze Award Bronwynn B. - Bronze Award Arun V. - Bronze Award Diego T. - Bronze Award Jacob M. - Bronze Award Wyatt D. - Bronze Award Lucas G. - Bronze Award Sophie L. - Bronze Award Anvi U. - Bronze Award Dhruv V. - Bronze Award Bridget D. - Bronze Award Delaney I. - Bronze Award Robbie E. - Bronze Award Emory W. - Bronze Award Theahyun K.. - Bronze Award Jayhyun Kim. - Bronze Award Nora L. - Bronze Award Ved M. - Bronze Award |
Ages 16+
1511 volunteer hours between the ten of them, while in high school! Lauren D. - Gold Award Adarsha J. - Silver Award Siddharth D. - Silver Award Grace T. - Silver Award Pranav S.- Bronze Award Arjun B. - Bronze Award Ethan H. - Bronze Award Grace H. - Bronze Award Shrey J. - Bronze Award Sienna W. - Bronze Award |
You inspire us to do more! Thank you for supporting your community.
We cannot wait to see what you do next!
We cannot wait to see what you do next!