Daily Point of Light Award
Celebrating the power of individuals to lead and lend support to causes they care about.
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.
Eligibility & Criteria
- 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.).
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.
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.
Recent Daily Point of Light Honorees
Daily Point of Light
Family-oriented Teacher Uses Adventure to Unite and Inspire Veterans and Those in the Armed Forces
Daily Point of Light
Alaskan Therapy Dog Team Brings Peace and Joy to Those Dealing With High-Stress Events
Daily Point of Light
High School Senior Provides Opportunities to Increase Literacy
Daily Point of Light
Young Leader Fosters Unity and Empowerment Through Passionate Volunteerism
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.
The Benefits of Being a Daily Point of Light Honoree
The Daily Point of Light Award is more than a day of recognition—it is a commitment of support and community of 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 different, 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 self and/or organization on the Points of Light website and social media verbiage to promote one’s story.
- Opportunities for interviews with local and national news outlets.
- Ability to network with others from your area at invitation-only meet-ups throughout the year.
- 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 self and/or organization throughout national media markets, such as podcasts and morning shows.
- Consideration for other award opportunities throughout the Points of Light Network, programs and corporate partnerships.
*Benefits are not guaranteed and are offered at the discretion of Points of Light
Daily Point of Light Honoree #6405
Dr. Heval Kelli
The true story of the American dream, Dr. Kelli arrived to America as a refugee and now is a cardiologist who runs a pre-med mentoring program to invest in kids who were just like him.
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.
Download the 2022 Program Report
View our 2022 Daily Point of Light Award Program Report for a comprehensive overview of the program, including honoree demographics, cause areas, impact and more.
