The President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA)
(Updated on 3/26/2021. PDF English Information, PDF 中文介绍，Application Form)
In an effort to inspire more youth in our community to leave a positive impact and serve those in need, the Chinese American Parents Association of Montgomery County (CAPA-MC) became an organization certified to issue President’s Volunteer Service Awards (PVSA). At the organization’s first PVSA ceremony in September 2019, a total of seven youth were awarded for their outstanding community service. Afterwards, the CAPA-MC PVSA committee also got several inquiries about the PVSA award, which will be answered as follows.
What is the PVSA?
PVSA is the prestigious award issued by US federal government. It encourages US citizens and permanent residents to serve their community. According to the Presidential Service Award website, the PVSA was founded in 2003 by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation. The website states the award’s purpose is to honor volunteers who positively impact their communities and inspire those around them to take action. The award is supported by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and administered by Points of Light. For more information, please visit https://www.presidentialserviceawards.gov/.
Criteria
Individuals that meet the following criteria are eligible for the PVSA.
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- Recipient(s) must be a United States citizen or a lawfully admitted permanent resident of the United States.
- Awards are issued for service hours served within a 12-month time period or over the course of a lifetime.
- Awards are issued for volunteer service only.
- Hours required to earn awards in each age group:
| Age Group | Bronze | Silver | Gold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kids (5–10) | 26–49 hours | 50–74 hours | 75+ hours |
| Teens (11–15) | 50–74 hours | 75–99 hours | 100+ hours |
| Young Adults (16–25) | 100–174 hours | 175–249 hours | 250+ hours |
| Adults (26+) | 100–249 hours | 250–499 hours | 500+ hours |
What is CAPA’s 12 months service time period?
April 1s t to March 31s t. All the service hours which are used to apply for the award must be completed in the aforementioned time period and all documents/forms must be submitted to the CAPA volunteer coordinator at pvsa@capamc.org before June 1 (Note, extended from May 15) .
Are MCPS-approved SSL hours eligible to count toward an award?
Yes, but it is important to note that NOT all MCPS-approved SSL hours are eligible. First, the volunteer activity must be conducted in the US. Second, if the majority SSL hours are granted from one organization which is not affiliated with CAPA-MC, it is recommended to apply for the same award through that organization. CAPA has the discretion to decide if the SSL hour submitted by applicant is eligible to count toward PVSA award.
Is there an application fee for the award?
No application fee is needed to apply for the award.
What will happen if the age group changes in the 12-month time period?
If within the time period the age group of the applicant changes (Kid, Teens, Young Adults and Adults), the hours requirement will be divided into two parts, the months before and after the applicant’s birthday. Service hours will need to meet the required hours in each age group by month to be eligible for the award.
Are there other requirements to apply for the PVSA through CAPA?
One of the applicant’s family members must be a CAPA-MC member. If not, please register at https://www.capamc.org/.
How to find volunteer opportunities?
Volunteer opportunities can be found at https://montgomerycountymd.galaxydigital.com/need/. CAPA-MC will also host a student volunteering and leadership training seminar in February 29 of 2020. Please check the CAPA-MC website for any updates. Good luck to everyone applying and many thanks for working to give back to the community. If there are any other inquiries please feel free to send them in at pvsa@capamc.org.