Nominations Now Open for 2nd Annual Governor and First Lady's Medals for Service

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- The nomination period for the 2nd Annual Governor and First Lady's Medals for Service Award is now open, CaliforniaVolunteers announced today.  The Medals for Service are awarded to individual volunteers, nonprofits and business volunteer programs whose innovations and dedication create a positive impact on their community and the state of California.  

"The service movement is at a historic crossroad. More and more individuals and organizations are recognizing the power of volunteers to address critical community needs," said Secretary of Service and Volunteering, Karen Baker. "These trailblazers deserve to be recognized, admired and applauded for being architects of change in our communities."  

Nominations will be accepted in the following categories:

    
    
    -  California's Volunteer of the Year
       Honoring an outstanding Californian whose volunteer service is 
        exemplary and inspirational
    
    -  California's Small Business Volunteer Program of the Year
       Honoring an outstanding California small business (less than 500 
        employees) with an innovative, high-impact employee volunteer program
    
    -  California's Business Volunteer Program of the Year
       Honoring an outstanding California business (more than 500 employees) 
        with an innovative, high-impact employee volunteer program
    
    -  California's Nonprofit of the Year
       Honoring a California nonprofit that has shown an extraordinary 
        ability to leverage volunteers in service to their organization
    
    -  California's Service Group of the Year
       Honoring a California service group / club with a demonstrable impact 
        and unwavering commitment to their community
    
    -  California's AmeriCorps Member of the Year
       Honoring a California AmeriCorps member who has demonstrated AmeriCorps
        values, has made a significant contribution to their community, and is
        committed to a lifetime of service

This year marks the second annual Medals for Service competition.  Last year's awards were presented to Tom Zimmerman, California's Volunteer of the Year; Pacific Gas & Electric, California's Business Volunteer Program of the Year; and David Levinson, California's Nonprofit Leader of the Year. CaliforniaVolunteers received more than 100 nominations in 2009 and expanded the award categories to recognize additional remarkable individuals and organizations committed to making a difference.

"We are excited to review all the nominations and read stories about the innovative ways individuals and organizations are making a difference," concluded Baker. "Service isn't just a nice thing to do, it's a must do to make our communities better, and we are eager to recognize those who do it exceptionally well."

The deadline to submit a nomination for a Governor and First Lady's Medal for Service is March 31, 2010. The Governor and First Lady's Medals for Service will be presented at an awards ceremony in Sacramento in early May. To nominate a volunteer, nonprofit, business, service group or AmeriCorps member, please visit www.CaliforniaVolunteers.org/gflms.

The CaliforniaVolunteers Recognition Awards Program, including the Governor and First Lady's Medals for Service, are graciously sponsored by the Shinnyo-en Foundation.

About CaliforniaVolunteers

CaliforniaVolunteers is the state office that manages programs and initiatives to increase the number of Californians involved with service and volunteering, including the state AmeriCorps program, California Citizen Corps and the Cesar Chavez Day of Service and Learning. Through the innovative Web site, CaliforniaVolunteers.org, individuals and families can find more than 50,000 volunteer opportunities throughout the state involving the arts, education, animals, disaster preparedness, the environment and other areas of interest. Karen Baker, the nation's first state cabinet secretary of service and volunteering leads the organization and First Lady Maria Shriver serves as the honorary chairperson. For more information, please visit www.CaliforniaVolunteers.org.

SOURCE CaliforniaVolunteers