WASHINGTON, Feb. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Voices for National Service is pleased to announce that Jonathan Lavine, Managing Director, Bain Capital, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer, Sankaty Advisors, will receive an award for his support of national service.  Lavine will be formally presented with the Citizen Service Award at the 12^th Annual Friends of National Service Awards in Washington, DC on February 10^th. This honorary event, hosted by Voices for National Service, a coalition of national service programs, state service commissions and individual champions, is sponsored by Comcast NBCUniversal, CSX, Bain Capital, Sankaty Advisors, and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP.

Click here to see the full list of award winners and details regarding the event, which will be held on February 10^th. 

Lavine joins a bipartisan group of advocates being honored, including Governor Terry Brandstad (R-IA), Governor Rick Snyder (R-MI), Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Representative Hal Rogers (R-KY), and Washington Post columnist Michael Gerson. 

"I am honored to receive this award from Voices for National Service.  National service is an effective strategy for addressing pressing challenges in our nation," Lavine said.  "We need to lean into national service more to expand opportunity and ensure a brighter future for all Americans."

Voices for National Service President AnnMaura Connolly said, "For decades, Jonathan Lavine has been an unwavering champion for national service.  He not only supports the national service movement through his tremendous generosity, but he also gives his time and energy, often rolling up his sleeves to participate in service projects with his family.  He believes resolutely in the power of service to transform our nation, and we are thrilled to recognize him among this year's honorees."

Jonathan Lavine is Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer of Sankaty Advisors, one of the world's leading credit specialists and an independently-managed affiliate of Bain Capital, LLC. An active participant in charitable giving, Mr. Lavine serves on the Board of several national service programs in the Voices for National Service Coalition, including ServiceNation, Be The Change, Inc, and is chair of the National Board of Trustees at City Year. 

"Jonathan works tirelessly to expand opportunities for Americans to serve," said City Year Co-Founder and CEO Michael Brown.  "He is passionate about the role national service can play in helping students and schools succeed, and we are proud that he will receive this deeply deserved honor from Voices for National Service."

Honorees were selected based on recognition and support for national service as a solution to some of the nation's most pressing challenges.  Each award winner has helped to raise public awareness of national service and elevate national service as a legislative priority. 

National service is a cost-effective strategy for engaging citizens, improving communities, and strengthening the nation.  In communities across the country, national service members provide critical services to fulfill unmet needs. National service members tutor and mentor struggling students, help Americans lead healthier lives, provide job training and other services to returning veterans, preserve the nation's parks and public lands, offer disaster relief and recovery assistance, and support independent living for seniors and Americans with disabilities.  For every federal dollar invested in national service, there are returns to society of nearly four dollars in terms of higher earnings, increased output, and other community-wide benefits.

Voices for National Service is a diverse coalition of national service programs, state service commissions and individual champions, who work to ensure Americans of all ages have the opportunity to serve and volunteer in their community. Founded in 2003, Voices for National Service has built strong bipartisan support among our nation's leaders and helped position national service as a viable policy solution to tackle unmet needs, expand opportunity, and leverage human capital.

SOURCE Voices for National Service