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Governor Timothy M. Kaine has announced the recipients of the 2009 Governor’s Volunteerism and Community Service Awards. These awards highlight the efforts of outstanding citizens of the Commonwealth who seek to enhance the lives of others in their communities. The awards are presented to groups, individuals and families whose efforts exemplify extraordinary volunteer service. “I offer sincere congratulations to the volunteers who made a difference in the lives of others this year,” said Governor Kaine. “When we serve our community as volunteers, our unique skills, perspectives and experience make us a stronger Commonwealth.”

Governor Timothy Kaine has proclaimed April 19-25 as Volunteer Week in Virginia. This coincides with National Volunteer Week, an initiative of the Points of Light Institute. As a prelude to the recognition week, the Governor’s Volunteerism and Community Service Awards will be held April 15, in Richmond. Awards will be given to individuals and organizations who have exemplified extraordinary volunteer service. The theme for National Volunteer Week is “Celebrating People in Action,” honoring the individuals who dedicate themselves to taking action and solving problems in their communities. Nationally, there will be several recognition events celebrating leaders in the field of service, including a reception on Capitol Hill honoring Senators Kennedy and Hatch for their efforts behind the Serve America Act. Read the Governor’s proclamation in low resolution [PDF - 143kb] or high resolution [PDF - 7.5mb].

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Global Youth Service Day events are planned for April 24-26. The event, sponsored by Youth Service America, is the largest service event in the world with millions of youth volunteering in projects worldwide. Youth Service Day is designed to foster a life-long path of service and civic engagement. The event is also designed to educate the public, the media, and elected officials about the role of youth as community leaders. Youth are urged to tutor young children, engage in disaster relief, register new voters, educate their communities about good nutrition, distribute HIV/AIDs prevention materials, and meet many more community needs through their service. Get a complete list of Global Youth Service Day resources and learn about events in Virginia.

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A new center for servicing veterans has opened in Central Virginia. The Veterans Information and Resource Center opened March 25 in Petersburg and will bridge the gap between service provider and veteran. Support and assistance will be provided in services such as Virginia claim filing, transportation, homeless shelter, employee training, information hub on veteran’s benefits, and access to other eligible programs and resources. The goal of the center is to bridge the gap between the service provider and the veteran. Find out more.

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The U.S. House of Representatives has passed H.R. 1388, the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act. This legislation is the most significant overhaul and expansion of national service programs in 16 years. The bill is a reaction to President Obama’s call to increase service opportunities for Americans of all ages to address the econmic crisis and usher in a new era of service and responsibility for our nation. The GIVE Act would update and strengthen national service programs administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency created in 1993. The Corporation engages more than four million Americans in result-driven service each year, including 75,000 AmeriCorps members, 492,000 Senior Corps volunteers, 1.1 million Learn and Serve America students, and 2.2 million additional community volunteers mobilized and managed through the agency’s programs.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has announced a new four-year, $15 million initiative designed to increase enrollment and retention of eligible children in public health insurance programs such as Medicaid and the states’ Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).  More than nine million children in the U.S. are uninsured and more than seven million are eligible for either Medicaid or CHIP but are not enrolled in either program. To boost the number of children with health coverage, the foundation’s Maximizing Enrollment for Kids program will provide funding and technical support to departments of health in Alabama, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Virginia will receive up to $1 million and significant technical assistance through the initiative to help assess and strengthen their systems, policies, and procedures as they develop new strategies and approaches to maximize enrollment among eligible children.

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The Virginia Health Care Foundation will raise $1 million to meet a challenge grant from state funds to help pay for enhanced mental-health services in Virginia. The $2 million will be distributed to Virginia’s health safety-net providers through a competitive grant process. The foundation anticipates having up to 10 three-year grants to cover primary health care to the seriously mentally ill or expansion of basic mental-health services, such as helping uninsured patients who suffer from depression and anxiety. Find out more.

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The Phoenix Project will present “Accelerating Social Entrepreneurship: How Technology is Knocking Down Doors and Fueling Social Innovation,” May 4, at George Washington University, in Washington, D.C.  The conference will explore the role of technology in creating social change and transforming communities. The goal is to leverage social networking connectivity to enable individuals to find opportunities for service and to spur social change. The Phoenix Project has joined forces with the Corporation for National and Community Service, Community Wealth Ventures, George Washington University, Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation, Old Dominion University, and Root Cause to present the day-long event.  The conference will also be simulcast to Old Dominion University, in Norfolk. Find out more and register today.

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Connor Bell, 17, of Lynchburg and John Yates, 13, of Richmond have been named Virginia’s top youth volunteers for 2009 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. The award program is a nationwide effort honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism and is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals. As State Honorees, both will receive $1,000, an engraved award and trip to Washington, D.C., in May where they will be honored at several events. Connor, a senior at Virginia Episcopal School, organized a community event featuring a 20K bike ride, 5K run, and children’s bicycle parade to raise money for the Lance Armstrong Foundation. John, an eighth-grader at Lucille M. Brown Middle School, initiated and managed the complete renovation of his school’s running track so that the school’s P.E. classes, track team, and community members would have a modern, safe facility for outdoor exercise. Read more about the awards.

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