President’s Volunteer Service Awards

Canine Companions is a certifying organization for the President’s Volunteer Service Award.

About the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA)

The President’s Volunteer Service Award honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities across the country. There are three levels to the award: Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards. For more information, please visit their official website*.

President’s Volunteer Service Award is led by AmeriCorps* and managed in partnership with Points of Light*. The award was created in 2003 by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation and has continued since then under every administration. 

The President's Volunteer Service Award logo featuring a bald eagle with wings spread, holding an olive branch in one talon and arrows in the other, and a shield on its chest, encircled by the text "The President's Volunteer Service Award."

Award criteria and eligibility

Canine Companions volunteers must meet the following requirements to be eligible for the President’s Volunteer Service Award.

  • U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident of the U.S.
  • Must meet the hours in the table below between January 1 – December 31 to earn awards in each age group.
  • Service hours cannot be for court-ordered community service.
  • Service hours submitted for this award must be tracked by VolunteerHub, Caine Companions Volunteer Management System.
Age GroupBronzeSilverGold
Young Adults (16-25)100-174 hours175-249 hours250+ hours
Adults (26+)100-249 hours250-499 hours500+ hours

Note! The age category is determined by the age the person was for at least 7 months within the 12-month calendar year.

The award packet

The volunteer who meets the award eligibility requirements can choose to either receive an official President’s Volunteer Service Award pin based on the level (Gold, Silver or Bronze), a personalized certificate of achievement or both.

Award application process

All Canine Companions volunteers who meet the eligibility criteria are invited to apply for the President’s Volunteer Service Award.

  1. 2024 application period is open for Canine Companions volunteers between November 1 2024 – January 10, 2025.
  2. Canine Companions staff will review all applications and verify volunteer hours recorded in VolunteerHub.
  3. The award will be presented at the February National Graduation Day in 2025 or mailed to the eligible recipients.
a smiling girl sitting next to a yellow lab in a yellow puppy vest

*Please be aware that by clicking this link, you are visiting sites that are not managed by Canine Companions. Website security, accessibility and privacy policies may be different than Canine Companions policies. Please read their policies closely.

Award application

Name
Region
Address
United States citizenship verification (picklist)
What award level are you applying for?
What type of award packet would you prefer to receive?