Today kicks off the start of National Volunteer Week,  April 15-21, a celebration of people doing extraordinary things through service. The week honors the people and organizations dedicated to taking action and addressing problems in their communities.

“National Volunteer Week focuses attention on the impact and power of volunteerism and service as an integral aspect of our civic leadership,” said Points of Light CEO Michelle Nunn. “It is a time of celebration and of recognition of the power of people to create change.”

National Volunteer Week, sponsored by Reward Volunteers^®, draws the support and endorsement of the president and Congress, governors, mayors and municipal leaders, as well as corporate and community groups across the country. President Barack Obama issued a national proclamation, and members of Congress from across the country are sharing the story of a Daily Point of Light Award honoree from their district or state.

During National Volunteer Week, we will host special events and recognize and mobilize thousands of volunteers across the nation. Highlights of the week include:

• The national Make A Difference Day Award luncheon on April 19 will celebrate the 2012 Make A Difference Day honorees for their outstanding contributions and impact through voluntary action.

• A Billion + Change will host a breakfast and panel discussion at the 2012 Business and Civic Leadership (BCLC) National Conference on April 17 on the ways skills-based volunteering can create high-impact social change. The discussion will focus on ways companies can offer their best business skills and talents to benefit the mission of nonprofits.

This week we are recognizing 10 national nonprofits that are making a tremendous impact on our country’s most critical challenges. These partner organizations are mobilizing volunteers in meaningful ways to create change through hands-on service. They demonstrate a collaborative spirit through partnerships with other organizations to help strengthen communities across the nation. Partners include: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., American Red Cross, Big Sunday, Blue Star Families, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, FoodCorps, Give an Hour, National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), Share Our Strength and United Methodist Communications.

We are also recognizing our Leadership Partners, companies making important, strategic investments in the communities where they live and work through their partnership with us. These companies not only provide employee volunteers’ time and talent, they provide thought leadership and significant financial support. They include tier one partners American Express, Hasbro, Target, University of Phoenix and the UPS Foundation; and tier two partners Altria Group, Best Buy, GlaxoSmithKline, Google and JPMorgan Chase.

This week we will be highlighting inspiring stories and national nonprofits on our blog to highlight the great work people are doing throughout the world.  Join us in recognizing amazing volunteers! Now through July 7, volunteers are encouraged to download and use the Reward Volunteers^® app for iPhone or web widget. Reward Volunteers is a free, easy way for anyone that volunteers to log their time, post to Facebook and earn rewards for themselves and the organizations they serve.