Important Update

⚠️ Important Update: PVSA Program Temporarily Paused by AmeriCorps
As of May 27, 2025, AmeriCorps has placed the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) program on a temporary pause. Unfortunately, Generation SERVE and other Certifying Organizations were not notified in advance of this decision.

While we are unable to place award orders during this pause, we want to assure families that we are still closing out our current PVSA service year as planned. We will continue to track and process all eligible volunteer hours to ensure we are fully prepared to apply for awards should the program resume.

✅ What Families Need to Know: Although PVSA awards are temporarily paused, Generation SERVE is still completing the current 2024–25 service year and asks families to adhere to our planned submission deadlines. These deadlines ensure we have everything needed on file and that eligible service hours are fully considered when PVSA operations resume.

Key Deadlines:
🗓️ PVSA Outside Hours Submissions

• March–May 2025 PVSA Outside Hours are due by: June 14, 2025. Hours completed before March 2025 are not currently eligible for submission.
• The PVSA Outside Hours Form will close on June 15, 2025. Submissions for service hours completed after May 31 are not eligible for the 2024–25 PVSA service year.
• The form will reopen for the 2025-26 PVSA service year should the temporary pause  be lifted by AmeriCorps. 

💡 What Happens Next?

• We cannot place new orders until AmeriCorps resumes PVSA operations.
• We are committed to recognizing every eligible youth’s contributions should the program reopen.
  

What You Can Do
PVSA has meant a great deal to thousands of youth and families across the country. Here's what you can do:

✅ Contact your federal representatives to express support for the PVSA program and AmeriCorps as an institution. Find your representatives and send a message here: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
✅ Share your family’s PVSA story with policymakers — your voice matters!

We will continue to keep you informed of any PVSA updates via our social media, our PVSA webpage, and further email communications. If you have questions for us about our PVSA program, please reach out to [email protected].

President's Volunteer Service Award

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​President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA)
Generation SERVE is proud to be a certified organization for the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) — a national recognition program led by AmeriCorps and Points of Light that honors volunteers for their commitment to community service.
Each year, we recognize outstanding youth volunteers (ages 5–19) in our local service area who complete the required number of eligible service hours during our PVSA service year, which runs June 1 through May 31.

Who Is Eligible?To qualify for a PVSA through Generation SERVE, youth must:

• Be a registered Generation SERVE volunteer between the ages of 5 and 19 who meets all eligibility requirements outlined for the President’s Volunteer Service Award
  
  
• Live in our service area (Travis County and surrounding counties including Williamson, Bastrop, Caldwell, and Hays)
  
  
• Complete at least a portion of their hours through Generation SERVE-coordinated activities (see table below)
  
  

Meet the minimum hour requirement based on their age group (see next section)

Age Group	Bronze	Silver	Gold	Lifetime Achievement Award
Kids (5-10yrs)	26-49 hours	50-74 hours	75+ hours	4,000+ hours
Teens (11-15)	50-74 hours	75-99 hours	100+ hours	4,000+ hours
Young Adults (16-19)	100-174 hours	175-249 hours	250+ hours	4,000+ hours

Not in Central Texas? We are unable to process PVSA awards for those outside our service area, and we recommend reaching out to the local organization your child volunteers with most often to see if they are a PVSA Certifying Organization.

How to Apply for the PVSA through Generation SERVE

We do not ask our volunteers to apply for the PVSA. Instead, Generation SERVE concludes each service year by compiling a list of all eligible volunteers in good standing. If your child meets the eligibility requirements detailed on this page and has the qualifying hours in our system, no additional application is necessary. 

We will reach out in late June to confirm that no other PVSA submission has been submitted using the same hours and that each volunteer on our list is a US citizen or permanent resident before we order the award. Families must complete this final certification step by the provided deadline or we cannot place the award on your behalf.

PVSA Service Year and Age Groups
Our service year aligns with the school calendar and runs from June 1 to May 31. Youth are placed in the age group they belong to for the majority of that timeframe (November 29 cut-off date).

Age Group	Minimum Hours Required Through Generation SERVE
Kids (5-10yrs)	At least 10 hours with Generation SERVE
Teens (11-15)	At least 20 hours with Generation SERVE
Young Adults (16-19)	At least 30 hours with Generation SERVE

Important Information
Our PVSA service year runs from June 1st, 2024 - May 31st, 2025 to reflect our youth volunteers' academic calendar.

Outside service hours should be submitted quarterly to be considered for the  PVSA. Please see below for specific dates.

• March-May outside hours should be submitted by June 14th.
• 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.

PVSA Outside Hour forms are entered manually. Please allow up to 2-3 weeks for processing.

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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View our guidelines for volunteer hour verification, signature requests, and PVSA deadlines here.

concluding_pvsa_service_year.pdf
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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.

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.

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.

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 2-3 weeks 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.

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 up to 2-3 weeks for processing.

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 the month it is listed on the calendar 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:

• 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 2-3 weeks 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 21 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.

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 2-3 weeks 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.

When do I need to submit my OUTSIDE service hours?

In order to meet requirements of the PVSA, 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.
  

PVSA Outside Hour forms are entered manually. Please allow up to 2-3 weeks for processing.

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.

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.

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​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!

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!

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​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!
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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!