Daily Point of Light Toolkit

Congratulations on being recognized as a Daily Point of Light!

This toolkit is to help you and the organization you volunteer with promote becoing a Daily Point of Light honoree. Though the honor is meant to highlight the work you’ve done and continue to do, it’s also a way to highlight the organization and encourage others to want to be more involved in civic engagement. We have included a number of resources, including tips on how to take your own headshot and how to pitch your story to local media. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

Have you changed your phone number recently, or moved? Send us this pre-filled email to update your contact information.

Announcement Tips and Ideas

Honoree Logo Badge Local and Regional News Email and Newsletters Social Media and Blog Service Project

Post your honoree badge on your personal or affiliated website, business cards, newsletters or other materials.

Distribute a customized copy of the press release to your local news (template below). You can also pitch your story to news stations using this helpful guide. Your story can help inspire other people to volunteer with the same organization or support a similar cause.

Company Newsletter: Share the news of your award with your employer to share in their internal publications, using messaging from this toolkit.
Email Announcement: Circulate news of your win in an email blast to your stakeholders, donors, clients, friends, family and other important individuals and organizations. We encourage awardees to share the update with nonprofits and other community partners.
Email Signature: Include your honoree badge or a short sentence highlighting the achievement in your email signature.

Blog Post: Post a blog about your experience being awarded the Daily Point of Light.
Social Media: Use the social media messages and graphics provided to promote your achievement on Facebook, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Instagram and other digital platforms. Make sure to tag the host site organization and Points of Light and use the pre-determined hashtag wherever possible to help people find you and your cause.
Promotional Video: Create a short video highlighting your status as an honoree and promoting your community engagement programs.

Celebrate by engaging community partners and loved ones in a service project, continuing your dedication to investing in communities.

Key Messaging

Use the drafted language below to help you speak about the Daily Point of Light Award, whether you’re drafting an email or preparing for an interview.

Points of Light is a nonpartisan, global nonprofit organization that inspires, equips and mobilizes millions of people to take action that changes the world.
Points of Light envisions a world in which every individual discovers the power to make a difference, creating healthy communities in vibrant, participatory societies.
The Daily Point of Light Award honors those who are helping to meet critical needs in their communities and creating change every day, and celebrates the power of people to take action that improves the world.
On January 8, 1993, President George H.W. Bush submitted a report to the nation on his efforts to engage Americans in service. He called these volunteers “points of light.” From his first day in office, President Bush devoted very special attention to voluntary community service as a means of helping solve some of America’s most serious social problems.
President George H.W. Bush was the first president in American history to institute a daily presidential recognition program from the White House, conferring 1,020 Daily Point of Light Awards on citizens and organizations making a big difference in other people’s lives and solving community problems.
In 1998, Points of Light Foundation and the Corporation for National and Community Service reinstated the Daily Point of Light Award with a mission to honor those who take action to create change in their communities. Since then, Points of Light has inspired and recognized thousands for their voluntary service and celebrated the impact volunteers have on communities around the world. More than 8,000 Daily Point of Light honorees have been named to date.

How to Refer to Yourself and the Award

Use “Daily Point of Light honoree” or “Daily Point of Light” to refer to yourself as the individual recipient. Use “Daily Point of Light Award” when referring to the award. Do not pluralize Points, instead use Daily Point of Light Awards or Daily Point of Light honorees.

Resources

Email/Newsletter Copy

We encourage you and/or the organization you volunteer with to share this news with your/their email database. Here is a sample newsletter that can be customized to suit your needs.

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Press Release Template

Generate publicity for yourself or your organization by writing a press release. You can then use it as a tool when pitching your story to local media.

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Headshots

A professional photo for your social media and web presence is valuable, but does not mean you need to hire a photographer. Use this guide to take great DIY headshots, even on your phone.

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Global Volunteer Month

Make a plan to join Points of Light and organizations around the world to celebrate Global Volunteer Month.

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Daily Point of Light Badge

Fill out our form to request your unique Daily Point of Light badge. Display this badge in your email signature, on social media, on your website or resume to share your accomplishment.

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Sample Social Media Language

On your award day, we encourage you and the organization you work with to share your story on your/their social media channels. Below is some sample copy that can be personalized.

Facebook/LinkedIn Twitter Instagram Handles Hashtags

The Daily Point of Light Award is presented by @PointsofLight each day, celebrating the power of individuals to spark change and improve the world. 

I am honored to be today’s Daily Point of Light! Learn more about the work I do with [insert cause/issue area or organization name] [link to feature]

Happy to be recognized as a #DailyPointofLight. Thanks @PointsofLight for shining a light on [insert cause/organization] [link to feature]

I am today’s #DailyPointofLight honoree! Thank you @PointsofLight for recognizing [insert cause/organization]: [link to feature]

I am excited to be honored by @PointsofLight with a #DailyPointofLight Award, recognizing [insert organization name or details on volunteer work]. #volunteerism #volunteer #service #changemaker #pointsoflight #bethechange

The Daily Point of Light Award is presented by @PointsofLight each day, celebrating the power of individuals to spark change and improve the world. I am honored to be today’s #DailyPointofLight, and to be able to shine a light on [insert cause/issue area or organization name]. #volunteerism #volunteer #service #changemaker #pointsoflight #bethechange

Follow Points of Light and tag us in your post(s)

- On Twitter: @PointsofLight
- On Facebook: Points of Light
- On LinkedIn: Points of Light
- On Instagram: @PointsofLight

Use these hashtags

- #DailyPointofLight
- #pointsoflight
- #volunteerism
- #volunteer
- #service
- #changemaker
- #bethechange

Sign Up for Email!

As a Daily Point of Light honoree, we want to stay in touch! Sign up to receive information on Points of Light events, special Daily Point of Light moments and more.

Additional Opportunities

The President’s Volunteer Service Award

Honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities and inspires those around them to take action, too.

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Engage

Peruse for volunteer opportunities, in-person and virtual, that meet critical needs.

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Nominate Someone for a Daily Point of Light

Know someone that would be a good fit for the award? Nominate them!

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