Governor's Office of Youth, Faith and Family

Governor's Office of Youth, Faith and Family

Now Accepting Nominations for the 18th Annual Governor's Volunteer Service Awards

May 16, 2019

PHOENIX — The mission of the Governor's Volunteer Service Awards (GVSA) is to promote an ethic of service and volunteerism. GVSA is given at the Annual Arizona Summit on Civic Engagement and Volunteerism. It honors exemplary individual and organizational volunteer efforts that have strengthened communities and improved quality of life for Arizonans. 

A statewide panel of judges will recommend the award recipients and an announcement will be made in October 2019. The Governor's Commission on Service and Volunteerism will host a reception to honor the 18th Annual Award recipients in November 2019. 

Overall Eligibility Criteria for Award: This award recognizes individuals and groups who have dedicated their hearts, hands, and minds to help strengthen communities and solve persistent problems within the state of Arizona. Hours served for academic credit should not be included. Please select a category that best applies to the nominee: 

  • Lifetime Community Service - Individuals who have exemplified the ideals of service for 25 years or more. 
  • Inspired Adult Leadership - Individuals 18 years of age or older at time of nomination. 
  • Inspired Youth Leadership - Individuals 17 years or younger at time of nomination; or youth/school groups. 
  • Service to Community - Business, Faith-Based, Nonprofit, Public Entities. Category also includes other groups that serve in the public interest, including service clubs, fraternal organizations, community groups or college/university-based organizations. 
  • Service Enterprise Champion - A Points of Light Institute certified Service Enterprise that actively promotes the Arizona Service Enterprise Initiative.
  • National Service - A member of a national service program, including AmeriCorps and Senior Corps, that served during 2019. 
Special Note: The Commission reserves the right to grant no award or more than one award in a category based on the number and quality of nominations received. 

Nominations will be accepted through July 1, 2019. 

Nominate Someone Today!

17th Annual Governor's Volunteer Service Awardees

(From left to right) Donna Davis, Chair, Governor's Commission on Service and Volunteerism; Maria Cristina Fuentes, Director, Governor's Office of Youth, Faith and Family; Ken Briggs, United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, Service Enterprise Champion Awardee, Bruce Binkley, Service to Others Awardee; Jack and Joan Butler, Lifetime Community Service Awardees; Garvey Blackwell, Inspired Youth Leadership Awardee; Rachel Cheeseman, United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, Service Enterprise Champion Awardee; Tracy Bame, Freeport-McMoran High-Grade Helpers, Stewardship Awardee