Daily Point of Light Award - Points of Light

Honoring Individuals Who Change the World

Millions of people act on their power to do good every day, using their hearts, hands and minds to help strengthen communities and solve persistent problems. We recognize their individual stories, and lift them up to inspire others so we may each, in our own way, answer the call to make a difference.

Nominate a Daily Point of Light

Do you know someone who acts as a point of light in their community each day?
Nominate them for a Daily Point of Light Award.

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The Benefits of Being a Daily Point of Light Honoree

The Daily Point of Light Award is more than a day of recognition—it represents a commitment to support, community care, and awareness. Once awarded, Points of Light is pleased to offer each Daily Point of Light Award Honoree access to networking, educational and promotional opportunities. While every honoree’s journey is unique, a Daily Point of Light Award Honoree’s benefits may include:

Participation in Points of Light initiatives such as speaking opportunities at special events and gatherings.

Recognition for oneself and/or organization on the Points of Light website and social media with verbiage to promote one’s story, and opportunities for interviews with local and national news outlets.

Networking opportunities with others from your area at invitation-only meet-ups throughout the year, and information about potential grants and funding opportunities.

Ability to promote one’s status with the official Daily Point of Light Award Honoree badge on your website and other online platforms.

Exclusive opportunities throughout the year for promotion of oneself and/or organization through national media markets such as podcasts and morning shows.

Consideration for other award opportunities throughout the Points of Light Network, programs and corporate partnerships.

Eligibility & Criteria

Eligibility

Residency: Award nominees must be legal U.S. residents.
Service: All volunteer activities must be unpaid and cannot include court-ordered community service. Nominees who receive a nominal stipend for their service or receive paid time off to volunteer are eligible.
Timeline: Volunteer service must last for six uninterrupted months and still be ongoing (except disaster relief work).
Impact: Work should demonstrate real impact from the activity. Examples include number of people served, money raised, etc.
Community need: Activity must meet a community need or concern. Nominee must have sustainability plans for their activity (ex. working with community organizations to continue their work, empowering service recipients to continue their work, etc.).

Judging Criteria

The following criteria are utilized in reviewing and judging nominations:

Community Needs and Solution: Activity must meet a community need or concern. Nominee must have sustainability plans for their activity (ex. working with community organizations to continue their work, empowering service recipients to continue their work, etc.).
Impact: Demonstrated real impact (outputs and outcomes) from the activity. Examples include the amount of money raised, number of people that received services, etc.
Innovation: Activity should reflect innovative or unique approaches to solving serious social problems.

Daily Point of Light Honoree #7722

Te’Lario Watkins II

Te’Lario started gardening at the age of 7 after a Cub Scouts project inspired him. Through his efforts, he has donated over 2,000 pounds of produce to local food banks and raised money to help those facing food insecurity.

Read Te’Lario's Story

A Legacy Continued

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 7,000 Daily Point of Light honorees have been named to date.

History

On Jan. 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.