Teen Creates After-School Program to Combat Gender-Based Bullying, Build Confidence in Young Girls
During National Volunteer Week, we celebrate the impact of volunteer service in our communities, and recognize extraordinary individuals who are at the center of social change – like Daily Point of Light Award honoree Ina Bhoopalam. Read her story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
As a freshman in high school, Ina Bhoopalam found herself the target of bullying – simply because she was involved in, and excelling at, the same academic activities as her male classmates.
“People thought I shouldn’t be succeeding because I was a girl,” Ina said. The comments even spread to social media. “It didn’t make me feel good.”
Luckily for Ina, she had a support network of family and friends on which to lean on. When Ina’s dad told her that many girls don’t have that kind of support, she wanted to do something about it – and had the idea to start a program to address bullying, gender issues and building confidence in young girls in her own community.
“I had been through so much. I had people to help me through it. Some people don’t have that,” she said. “I wanted to do something to make a difference.”
In doing her research she came across an article about how, by the age of five, girls begin to think they’re less than boys. So, together with a group of friends, Ina created
– a curriculum developed to address the needs of elementary and middle school girls.
She created a pilot after-school program at Maxey Elementary School, in her community of Lincoln, Nebraska. On the first day it started with two girls and on the second day, the workshop had 10 girls and kept on growing.
“I want the girls to leave the program empowered, feeling like they can accomplish anything they want,” said Ina, now 17. “All girls are capable of doing anything they set their mind to. They should be empowered to dream and achieve what matters to them.”
Now, Ina has approval to expand the Like A Girl program, led entirely by youth volunteers, to 11 elementary schools, two middle schools and six high schools. In addition, the Like A Girl initiative is being offered through an after-school program at the Salvation Army.
Currently, Ina is working to register Like A Girl as a nonprofit and she would like to expand the program’s reach to all 40 Lincoln public schools, throughout Nebraska and into other states.
Ina hopes that Like A Girl will ensure no other girls have to face the same situation she went through. It wasn’t long ago that she experienced gender-based bullying herself, but starting Like A Girl has given her even more confidence.
“I have a purpose in what I am doing,” she said.
The Difference She Makes
Patrick Hunter-Pirtle has seen first-hand how Ina’s Like A Girl initiative has impacted young girls in Lincoln. He oversees the school district’s secondary education, and was approached by Ina with the idea to expand Like A Girl district-wide.
Like A Girl is incredible to watch, said Patrick, who has been impressed by the more than 100 youth volunteers Ina recruited to help lead the program – all are great students and community-minded people who make time and give energy to this program, he said.
And he has seen first-hand the joy of an elementary student sitting with one of the leaders, smiling. “They are teaching them they can be anything they want.”
recognizes 14 outstanding leaders of Make A Difference Day projects, awarding $140,000 in grants that are donated to the charities related to the winning projects. Learn more about Make A Difference Day at
www.makeadifferenceday.com
.
This post was written by Karen Cohen.
Points of Light Tribute: Honoring Extraordinary Individuals Who Take Action to Improve the World
“Any definition of a successful life must include service to others.”
– President George H. W. Bush
From the White House more than 25 years ago, President George H. W. Bush gave voice and direction to a movement that’s steadily grown ever since — changing countless lives in communities across the country and around the world. No president in American history has advanced with greater clarity and consistency this belief: that voluntary action to help others is inseparable from human freedom and America’s pursuit of what is right and good.
Each year, Points of Light honors individuals who embody the vision of “a thousand points of light” that President Bush first invoked during his acceptance speech at the 1988 Republican National Convention. Their extraordinary contributions to volunteering and service have made their communities, and the world, a better place.
The 2017 Points of Light Tribute Awards will be held on Thursday, Oct. 19, at the Embassy of France in Washington, D.C. CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer will serve as master of ceremonies for the event, where 300 corporate, nonprofit, and community leaders will gather to recognize and celebrate the power of the individual to spark change and improve the world.
“Strength, resilience and kindness flow from simple acts of service,” said Natalye Paquin, CEO of Points of Light. “The individuals honored tonight are shining examples of what it means to be a point of light. They represent the great humanitarian spirit that binds us together.”
Wildlife advocates Jack and Suzi Hanna, co-hosts of the Emmy-award winning TV series “Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild,” and ambassador for the Columbus Zoo and The Wilds. Passion for animals, dedication to teaching, and a great sense of humor – that’s the recipe that made Jack and Suzi Hanna two of the most well-known, well-respected and well-loved conservationists ever to grace the national stage. Jack and Suzi have had the privilege to travel to Africa more than forty times and have visited each continent at least twice. They are proud to support a number of Rwandan wildlife and humanitarian organizations, including the Gorilla Doctors and Partners In Conservation. The Hannas’ unique and moving experiences led them to initiate the Columbus Zoo’s strong commitment to wildlife conservation efforts in 40 countries worldwide.
Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, founding chair of R20: Regions of Climate Action, and founder of the USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy. This world-famous athlete and actor was born in Austria, and became the youngest person ever to win the Mr. Universe title. Later, he would go on to earn a college degree from the University of Wisconsin and proudly became a U.S. citizen. As the 38th governor of California, Schwarzenegger ushered in an era of innovative leadership and extraordinary public service. But it is his commitment to giving something back to his state and to his country through public service that gives him the most satisfaction; donating his time, energy, and personal finances to serving others all over the world.
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Coty Sensabaugh and his wife Dominique Sensabaugh, founders of Sensabaugh Mission Moon. In lieu of wedding gifts, the Sensabaughs asked guests to donate shoes or money to Soles4Souls. Accompanied by friends and family, the newlyweds traveled to the Dominican Republic and distributed more than 500 pairs of shoes to impoverished adults and children. Through the Soles4Souls partnership, the Sensabaughs have helped collect more than 11,000 pairs of shoes. Coty has also partnered with Food for the Hungry to help provide fresh water systems to communities in Haiti. He also runs an annual free youth football camp, now in its fifth year, which has served more than 2,000 children in his home community of Kingsport, Tennessee. He is also a recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award and the Daily Point of Light Award.
A special Points of Light Lifetime Service Award will be presented to Ambassador C. Boyden Gray for his public service, volunteer leadership on the boards of numerous charitable, educational, and professional organizations, and his longtime support of the Points of Light vision and mission as established by President Bush. Ambassador Gray has held several diplomatic appointments, and served as White House counsel during the Bush Administration, 1989-1993. During his time in the White House, Ambassador Gray took a special interest in clean air issues; he became one of the principal architects of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments and was also involved in the creation of the Energy Policy Act of 1992.
“Points of Light continues to lift up one of the legacies that is most important to my dad, and one that continues to have enormous ripples and impact in communities around the world,” said Neil Bush, chairman of Points of Light’s board of directors and son of President George H. W. Bush. “These extraordinary individuals bring leadership, innovation, and energy to bear on some of the toughest challenges we face as a nation. It is our privilege to recognize them.”
The 2017 Tribute Award honorees are representative of the more than 62 million Americans who volunteer their time, talent and resources every year in service to others. The value and impact of volunteering is particularly relevant today, on the heels of numerous natural disasters, including three catastrophic hurricanes. In the coming weeks, months and years, the people of Houston, the Gulf Coast region, Florida, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico will continue to recover and rebuild from the devastation caused by these storms – and these efforts will be most effective and successful with the
” concert benefitting communities hit by recent natural disasters; they will receive their awards from Points of Light Chairman Neil Bush and be recognized on stage with the five living former U.S. presidents, including Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter.
Do you know a volunteer who is lighting the way for good, creating meaningful change in their community, or taking action that improves the world?
NFL Safety Michael Thomas Follows Lifelong Commitment to Give Back and Create Change
During National Volunteer Week, we celebrate volunteers who lend their time, talent, voice and support to causes they care about. Their stories inspire others to take action and discover their collective power to unite in making a difference. Points of Light is recognizing five NFL players with Daily Point of Light Awards; Competitors on the field, these players unite for a common cause as volunteers with the Van Duzer Foundation’s First Step program – acting as mentors and ambassadors of change. Meet honoree Michael Thomas, read his story and nominate an outstanding volunteer, family or organization as a Daily Point of Light.
“I volunteer because I want to see real change in our communities,” said Michael Thomas, safety for the Miami Dolphins. Dedicated to giving back, he was one of the first NFL players to participate in the First Step Program – an initiative led by Daily Point of Light Award honoree
that gives kids and teens the opportunity to engage with community leaders on a regular basis, coming together for casual pick-up games, mentoring and small group discussions on community issues.
Michael has attended First Step events in the Fort Pierce community in Florida, playing touch football with local kids and speaking to them about relevant social issues, such as communication with law enforcement. “The best thing you can give to these kids in these communities is time,” he said. “To show that you actually care.”
In addition to his work with First Step, Michael is actively involved in several other initiatives that allow him to make a difference. He volunteers with the Boys & Girls Club and, in partnership with the Dreambuilders Foundation, supports mentoring programs in South Florida. Over the last three years, his Dreambuilders program has provided more than $35,000 of funding to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami, which pairs at-risk youth with positive mentors. Michael is heavily involved in the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality, or RISE, and also runs a free youth football camp, which provides an entire day of SAT, ACT and college application prep. Along with fellow NFL players and Daily Point of Light Award honorees Jonathan Meeks and Coty Sensabaugh, he has also partnered with
, an organization that strives to end human poverty and world hunger around the world, to help provide fresh water systems to communities in Haiti. He is also a recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award.
“I always said that if I ever made it, I would give back,” Michael told a group of children at a First Step event at King Middle School in Atlanta. “The importance of giving back to your community is just showing those who come after you that I care about this community, I care about you, I want to give my time.”
Meet the other NFL players honored this week for their commitment to volunteerism and the First Step program: Sam Barrington, Jared Cook, Jonathan Meeks and Coty Sensabaugh.
You can help these Daily Point of Light honorees increase the impact of their work! The First Step program has pitched its creative solution to solving community needs to A Community Thrives, part of the USA Today network. Cast your vote to help First Step win a $100,000 grant to expand the program to neighborhoods across the United States. Vote today!
Recognition Program Helps Nonprofits Thank, Inspire and Recruit Volunteers
Volunteers are vital to nonprofits, helping them keep up with the critical services they provide to their communities. According to the latest Volunteering and Civic Life in America report from the Corporation for National and Community Service, 62.6 million people in the United States volunteered in 2015, collectively donating 7.8 billion hours of their time to their communities – an estimated $184 billion worth of service.
Volunteer recognition events are a wonderful way for nonprofits to not only thank their volunteers but also to share the incredible impact of the work they do. Lifting up these stories is also a powerful tool for inspiring others to give back, promoting service as a solution to the toughest challenges facing our communities. Additionally, recognition programs help raise overall awareness of the central role volunteers play in supporting a nonprofit’s mission – a helpful narrative for recruiting new volunteers. OneOC, a Points of Light affiliate, accomplishes all of the above with the Spirit of Volunteerism Awards.
“Here’s one thing we know – volunteers are at the heart of nonprofits” is the slogan for the annual recognition program, hosted by OneOC each year in April. The event celebrates the work of the individuals, organizations, families and businesses making a difference in Orange County, California.
“Recognizing volunteers for a job well done is really important to [volunteer] retention,” said Barbara Powers, chief development officer for OneOC. “The nonprofits really value this event as a way to honor and recognize their volunteers and help retain them.”
Nonprofits across Orange County are invited to nominate volunteers to be recognized; though there’s no official limit, organizations usually nominate 1 to 5 volunteers. All nominees attend the event, are recognized with a photo and bio in the program, and receive a special honoree packet.
But recognition does not end at the event. OneOC also publishes blog features on each volunteer, which are distributed and published in local newspapers. Additionally, the nonprofits that nominate volunteers receive a social media marketing toolkit to help them share news of the awards. Barbara added, “We really want the nonprofits to feel equipped in multiple ways to honor those volunteers.”
All individuals nominated are recognized at the luncheon, but there is one honor that is determined by a panel of judges – the Giving is Living Award, which celebrates an outstanding collaboration between a nonprofit and company they partner with.
The winning partnership in 2016, a collaboration between High School Inc. and Tom’s Truck Center, developed an Automotive, Transportation and Logistics Academy at Valley High School. The mission of High School Inc. is improving the educational environment for students at Valley High School, and increasing retention rates. Students participating in this partnership program take lessons from the Tom’s Truck Center employees, shadow them at their worksite, receive mentorship, and attend industry events. The program has been very successful – with graduation rates rising from 62 percent to 95 percent.
Now in its 41st year, OneOC is expecting a crowd of more than 1,100 people for the 2017 Spirit of Volunteerism Awards Luncheon, taking place on April 24. Nine months of preparation will pay off as more than 350 volunteers are recognized and thanked for their work – and a new set of changemakers’ stories are told, inspiring others to follow in their footsteps.
For Barbara, the volunteers’ reactions are one of the most inspiring parts of the event.
“In a room full of 1,100 people you think ‘how special are [the volunteers] actually feeling?’” she said. “And when you hear from them that, even in that sea of people, each one feels special – for me, that’s what this event is about.”
5 Outstanding Volunteers Recognized as Cabot Community Celebrities
Points of Light is proud to join with the Cabot Community Celebrity Awards again this year to recognize the achievements and contributions of volunteers who serve every day in communities across the nation.
Each year, Cabot Creamery Cooperative, a New England cheese and dairy product producer, awards celebrities, or community volunteers from all over the United States with a yearly cruise for their service. The goal is to honor the achievements and contributions of volunteers who are making a significant difference in their communities.
For the last five years, Cabot hosts the Community Celebrity Award and Cruise to spotlight those who serve others. Cabot works to inspire more people to contribute time to their communities and is changing the notion of “celebrity” to include the recognition of selfless volunteerism. Cabot has a national partnership with different nonprofits, including Points of Light who play a role in discovering volunteers for the Community Celebrity Cruise. Points of Light members, including HandsOn Network Affiliates identified volunteers across the United States who have dedicated their hearts and time with little thought to personal recognition, and rewarded them with a trip of a lifetime on an Alaskan cruise. For this year’s cruise, the Cabot team has invited previous winners to attend to bring new and old winners together to celebrate the power of service.
Cabot is owned by 1,200 dairy farm families throughout New York and New England. Cabot produces award-winning cheeses that are made with love and pride and manages four plants in three states.
Keep reading for more information about the winners this year!
After volunteering in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina with various agencies using his skills as a chef, Gary LeBlanc was inspired to founded Mercy Chefs in his home of Virginia with the goal of providing substantive hot meals to people following natural or national disasters. In the years since, Mercy Chefs and their mobile kitchens have gone on to serve hot meals to nearly 1.5 million people in the wake of disaster, an average of nearly 301 meals a day. They were on the ground during the West Virginia flooding earlier this year and most recently when Louisiana once again faced devastation.
Gary also recognized the need to serve low income families across Hampton Roads and this year served their one millionth meal during their Thanksgiving outreach. Some 3,000 Thanksgiving meals and 2,200 Christmas meals were served this year in Hampton Roads. Mercy Chefs partnered to serve 120 daily meals to students at Title 1 schools for breakfast and lunch during summer break. They hope to expand the numbers this summer and feed 2,000 students at Title 1 schools in Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Chesapeake.
Caitlan is an Army veteran with a huge heart. She has a way of empowering and motivating others and found her passion working with the homeless of Jacksonville. One night she ran into somebody she had served with in the Military who was now homeless. Caitlan became involved with The Mission Continues, a veterans’ group dedicated to using skills learned in the military to serve their communities in new ways. With just a small team, she hits the streets multiple times a week to provide needed items and help veterans set long term goals to get into a more stable situation. She also gives many hours to The Mission Continues to help with a variety of projects such as painting schools, building playgrounds, and replacing fences.
When Karl Yena retired he took the skills he had honed in the private sector for 33 years and began volunteering his time helping nonprofit organizations in his community. Karl now works annually with more than 100 nonprofits in North Carolina to provide ongoing mentoring/coaching to Executive Directors and provides assistance to nonprofits in education, health, municipalities, human services, churches, foundations, and civic organizations & associations in the areas of strategic planning; Board development, staff development training; mediator/facilitator; and human resources & governance policies. His impact is both deep and wide, and he approaches work with the attitude of a servant and with an intent on helping people increase their capacity to serve effectively.
Frandy has incredible dedication to his community and to helping those in need, which comes from an inward desire to do his part to help make the world a better place. His community service efforts are unique because he has made volunteering a regular part of his life. He does this, while also serving his community on a professional level as a Direct Support Professional assisting those who are living with disabilities. He has been a volunteer for Volunteer New York! and participated in community safety days, clean-up events and charity 5Ks. The issues he is most passionate about are hunger and homelessness. He is a regular volunteer with Soup Angels, a program that provides hot meals twice a week to those in need. He is an exceptional example of the spirit of volunteerism.
Steve Sunday has a thing for technology, both of today and of days gone by. He may have picked up a thing or two while spending 36 years in the U.S. Naval Academy Information Technology Department. Upon retirement, he wasn’t sure where to take his life next. Then he saw an advertisement in the local paper looking for volunteers. Steve has been maintaining the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Center’s website ever since. Steve helped connect the Volunteer Center with over 4,000 community volunteers through the website work he did. Thank you for all of your hard work, Steve!
Daily Point of Light and Women of Worth Honoree Named to Time ‘100 Most Influential People’
Today, Jaha Dukureh was named to Time Magazine’s “
” List, honored alongside such leaders as Barack Obama, Christine Lagarde and Angela Merkel.
At age 15, Jaha moved from the West African nation of Gambia to the United States for an arranged marriage. Prior to her move, she was forced to undergo the most severe form of female genital mutilation and had to be surgically reopened upon her marriage.
Jaha went on to create
, an Atlanta-based nonprofit that raises awareness of female genital mutilation, or FGM, provides support to survivors and works to put an end to this harmful practice.
For her extraordinary efforts in the fight against FGM, Jaha received the
.
“Sometimes when a thing is unbearable to imagine, we do the opposite of what we should: we turn away, shielding our hearts and minds in order to preserve our own peace,” writes Peggy Orenstein, in
. “In speaking out against female genital mutilation, Jaha Dukureh has refused to let horror be silenced.”
FGM is often perceived as a problem that only happens in faraway places like Africa. But in the United States, young girls from immigrant communities – from countries where FGM is a cultural or religious coming-of-age ritual – are subject to the practice. Jaha travels the country to speak to communities affected by female genital mutilation. She also presents workshops and seminars at universities to raise awareness about FGM occurring in America.
Safe Hands for Girls supports survivors with legal aid, connects them with referral services and has created support groups for FGM survivors around the country.
“I started Safe Hands for Girls because as a survivor of FGM, I know how hard it was for us and having to deal with alone and I knew I needed to speak up and support other survivors,” she says.
Jaha has been instrumental in awakening public interest in the campaign against FGM in the United States. Her work includes national media outreach and formidable campaign work that preceded the passage of the Girls’ Protection Act of 2010, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Joseph Crowley of New York. She also launched a
calling for the Obama administration to develop a strategic plan to end FGM, which gained more than 221,000 supporters and resulted in the President announcing that he will commission a report to study the issue.
Meanwhile, Jaha’s work has inspired a new generation of survivors who are breaking the cycle from mother to daughter. She now trains other survivors to be advisers in their own communities.
“Women’s empowerment is allowing women to enjoy their God-given rights to sexuality, health and freedom,” she says. “We were born free and perfect.”
If you are interested in helping Jaha Dukureh put a stop to FGM,
Know a Woman Serving Her Community in Big Ways? Nominate Her for Women of Worth and a Chance for a $10,000 Grant
Stephanie Decker lost her legs to save her kids and found her calling, helping children missing limbs play sports. Mary K. Hoodhood heard about a child digging through the trash for food and set out to feed hungry kids. And, remembering her struggles as a single mom, Rachel Jackson-Bramwell rallied her community to prepare low-income women for success.
recognize, celebrate and support women who make a beautiful difference in their communities. Each of the 10 honorees receives a $10,000 grant to donate to her most cherished cause. Through online voting, the public gets to pick a national honoree, who receives an additional $25,000 grant.
“L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth is an example of the incredible energy created when we take time to recognize the amazing efforts of volunteers,” said Tracy Hoover, Points of Light’s CEO. “These exceptional women are truly points of light – leveraging their time, skills and resources to bring about change by tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges and motivating others to serve.”
Women of Worth has recognized 90 extraordinary women, giving them a national platform from which to share their stories.
You have until May 15 to nominate for the 2015 Women of Worth. All 10 honorees will be recognized in December at an awards ceremony hosted by L’Oréal Paris in New York.
For more information about Women of Worth, to nominate a woman making a difference and to learn about past honorees, visit
Which One of These Inspiring Women Will You Vote For?
From a 19-year-old college student who created a computer program that teaches the cloud how to diagnose breast cancer, to a 62-year-old quadriplegic woman addressing childhood hunger in her city, the 2014Women of Worth honorees are creating change in their communities and beyond.
Stephanie Decker
Meet these 10 inspiring women below and vote for your favorite. The National Honoree chosen by the public’s votes will get an additional $25,000 for her cause, on top of the $10,000 each honoree receives.
To vote, visit L’Oréal Paris’ WomenofWorth.com, where you can also explore more about the honorees. There is also an opportunity to engage through social media, voting with a “Like” on a post about a favorite honoree on the L’Oréal Paris Facebook page, or by retweeting a mention about one of the Women of Worth made by L’Oréal Paris on Twitter.
You have until Nov. 21 to vote. This year’s National Honoree will be announced during a celebration of all of the 2014 Women of Worth on Dec. 2 in New York.
L’Oréal Paris announced the honorees this week alongside its nonprofit partner, Points of Light. The 2014 Women of Worth are:
Corinne Cannon – Washington, D.C.; founder and executive director, DC Diaper Bank, a nonprofit organization which has distributed over 1 million diapers to mothers in poverty to help reduce maternal stress, founded after Cannon’s own experience as a new mother showed her that even with a strong network of support, stress can affect parents in many ways.
Stephanie Decker – Sellersburg, Ind.; founder, The Stephanie Decker Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps children with prosthetics engage in sports and provides access to leading-edge prosthetics to those who need them, created after Decker lost both of her legs protecting her young children from the destructive forces of a tornado.
Shaaron Funderburk – Gastonia, N.C.; founder, Off the Streets Program (OTSP) and OTSP Transitional House, a nonprofit organization providing a home and support for women recovering from drug addiction and homelessness, created following Funderburk’s own recovery.
Mary K. Hoodhood – Grand Rapids, Mich.; founder, director, Kids’ Food Basket, the largest childhood anti-hunger organization in Michigan which helps underserved children. Despite being quadriplegic, Hoodhood was determined not to let her disability hold her back from helping others and has thus dedicated her time to giving back.
Rachel Jackson-Bramwell – St. Clair County, Ill.; founder and executive director, Project Compassion and Compassionate Resources Center, a nonprofit that provides support for the St. Clair County and Greater St. Louis-areas homeless and low-income women and children, often overlooked by government services.
Deborah Snyder – Alexandria, Va.; president and CEO, Operation Renewed Hope Foundation, a nonprofit that helps to eliminate homelessness among veterans, created after Snyder’s retirement from the U.S. Army as a lieutenant colonel and helicopter pilot.
Phyllis Sudman – Plymouth Meeting, Pa.; co-founder, Simon’s Fund, which raises awareness of the warning signs and conditions that lead to sudden cardiac arrest and death in children, founded after Sudman tragically lost her 3-month-old son, Simon.
Brittany Wenger – Bradenton, Fla.; Duke University student and aspiring pediatric oncologist who invented Cloud4Cancer, a computer program that uses artificial intelligence and test results to diagnose breast cancer with 99 percent accuracy, driven by a young family member’s battle with the disease.
Audra DiPadova Wilford – Santa Ana, Calif.; founder, MaxLove Project, a nonprofit organization that empowers families fighting childhood cancers and life-threatening conditions with whole-body wellness resources, education and research, founded after Wilford’s son Max was diagnosed with brain cancer at age 4.
Jenny Williamson – Granite Bay, Calif.; founder and CEO, Courage Worldwide, an international nonprofit volunteer organization building homes for children rescued out of sex trafficking.
Are You – or Someone You Know – Worthy of This Honor?
Millions of women across the country are making extraordinary transformations in their communities every day. Through the signature Women of Worth program, Points of Light and L’Oréal Paris have partnered to celebrate women making a difference as volunteers.
Women of Worth honoree Lauren Book, center, participates in her annual Walk in My Shoes Campaign, which benefits survivors of sexual abuse.
Maybe someone you know will be next. Starting today you can nominate a woman of worth in your own life – or even yourself – through June 25, 2014. L’Oréal Paris donatates $10,000 to each honoree to help support her work. Please visit WomenofWorth.com to nominate and to learn more about the inspiring stories of past honorees. Now in its ninth year, the program has honored 80 extraordinary women.
To kick off the annual call for nominations, L’Oréal Paris is organizing its first Women of Worth Twitter Forum. To further the conversation around self-worth, Points of Light is co-hosting a discussion around the power of giving back today, Wednesday, April 16, at 1 p.m. Eastern. You can follow and participate in the conversation by following @PointsofLight and tweeting during the 1 p.m. hour using the hash tag #WomenofWorth.
In addition to the 1 p.m. discussion, other conversations will take place throughout the day, at 9 a.m., 4 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. around other facets of worth. Here is the full schedule (all times Eastern):
9 a.m. – Women of Worth: Celebrating Extraordinary Women
1 p.m. – The Worth Effect: The Power of Giving Back
4 p.m. – Passion and Positivity: How Feeling Your Best Fuels Success
8 p.m. – The Beauty of Worth: Achieving Happiness in Life, Work and Love
9 p.m. – What’s Worth It: Charting Your Course & Realizing Your Dreams
is coming up – April 6 to 12 – and we’ve got a special way for your organization or company to recognize outstanding volunteers in your community.
The President’s Volunteer Service Award honors Americans who, by their commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service. The award is issued by Points of Light and the
with the President’s Volunteer Service Award for the seventh consecutive year. In 2013, Citi employees served more than 15,000 volunteer hours for Junior Achievement USA, which helps young people plan for the future. Employers can also give the award to its employees for serving their communities.
and be sure to place your orders online by March 23 to ensure delivery in time for National Volunteer Week.
And while National Volunteer Week is a great time to recognize your volunteers with the President’s Volunteer Service Award, think of bestowing the honor anytime throughout the year as a way celebrate the volunteers who make life better for others.
