Volunteer Center Network Honors Corporation for National and Community Service

(Washington, D.C.) -- The Volunteer Center National Network presented its 2005 Award of Excellence to the Corporation for National and Community Service.

The award presentation took place at the annual Volunteer Center luncheon, part of the National Conference on Volunteering and Service in Washington, D.C on August 4. The three-day conference brings together more than 2,500 leaders of the volunteer and national service network to gain skills and develop strategies to engage more Americans more effectively in service to meet pressing local needs.

The Volunteer Center National Network Council established the award in 1995 to recognize organizations that have made significant contributions to the development of the national network of Volunteer Centers. The Corporation was recognized for providing support to more than 100 Volunteer Centers in the last year by:

• Supporting 75 VISTA slots through the Strengthening Communities VISTA program.
• Awarding $1.3 million in disability grants to support the Points of Light Foundation and the Network
• Providing Martin Luther King Day of Service Grants to support local organizations
• Supporting the Youth Ready to Respond program, to help local education agencies and Volunteer Centers develop service-learning homeland security projects.

“I can't think of a recognition that means more to us,” said Corporation CEO David Eisner, who noted that the Corporation's draft strategic plan and upcoming grant competitions place a stronger emphasis on supporting volunteer connector organizations. “We're privileged to be able to find more ways to put resources into the hands of Volunteer Centers to advance their vital work of connecting Americans with volunteer opportunities.”