Georgia Teens Recognized as 7,000th Daily Point of Light Honorees for Their Work Supporting the Next Generation of Changemakers

Kruthik Ravikanti and Deesha Panchal were both named Daily Point of Light Award No. 7,000 by Points of Light, a global nonprofit organization that inspires, equips and mobilizes millions of people to take action that changes the world. Kruthik and Deesha received this recognition for their ongoing commitment to supporting the next generation of changemakers and helping teens certify their organizations as a 501(c)(3).

Kruthik and Deesha are the co-directors of Georgia Youth Leaders, a 501(c)(3) organization that provides information and guidance to young social entrepreneurs, allows them to benefit from nonprofit status, helps them procure funding and supports them in various other ways. Georgia Youth Leaders is a bridge for connecting changemakers with teens trying to find their passions through volunteering.

“Many young people aren’t particularly interested in typical types of volunteering but have a desire to launch their own service projects,” said Kruthik. “They often lack the necessary resources, such as the time and money it takes to obtain official nonprofit status. To address this problem, we created Georgia Youth Leaders.”

“Georgia Youth Leaders offers a fiscal sponsorship program for the youth creating change in their communities,” said Deesha. “We strive to connect students with volunteer networks and opportunities that they express through their passions and offer service projects with varying topics and scales to transform every young person into a socially conscious leader.”

Daily Point of Light Awards are given five days a week as Points of Light honors individuals and groups creating meaningful change to meet community needs, efforts that often lead to long-term solutions and impact social problems in their local communities.

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. Points of Light continues the recognition each weekday and now has 7,000 honorees to date.

“The Daily Point of Light Award recognizes those who saw something they wanted to improve in the world, then through their time, talent and efforts, began making those improvements,” said Natalye Paquin, president & CEO, Points of Light. “We’re are excited to celebrate this milestone and pleased to honor Kruthik and Deesha for their amazing work.”

Kruthik and Deesha continue to inspire others with their work and hope to show others that they can make a difference in their communities too.

To learn more about Kruthik and Deesha’s work, visit www.georgiayouthleaders.org.

About Points of Light

Points of Light is a global nonprofit organization that inspires, equips and mobilizes millions of people to take action that changes the world. We envision a world in which every individual discovers the power to make a difference, creating healthy communities in vibrant, participatory societies. Through affiliates in 200 cities across 37 countries, and in partnership with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages 5 million volunteers in 14 million hours of service each year. We bring the power of people to bear where it’s needed most. For more information, go to www.pointsoflight.org.

About the Daily Point of Light Award

For nearly 30 years, Points of Light has been honoring individuals five days a week with its, Daily Point of Light Awards. This award honors individuals and groups creating meaningful change to meet community needs; efforts which often lead to long-term solutions and impact social problems in their local communities.

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. Points of Light continues the recognition each weekday and now have 7,000 honorees to date.

A STATEMENT FROM POINTS OF LIGHT PRESIDENT AND CEO NATALYE PAQUIN IN HONOR OF CAPTAIN SIR THOMAS MOORE

Today, we celebrate the lives and legacies of two extraordinary leaders in the civil rights movement – Reverend C.T. Vivian and Congressman John Lewis.

Let their legacies serve to inspire us to live fully civically engaged lives and to make the world a more just and equitable place for all.

These two men have provided a guiding light to what it means to live civically engaged lives. They exemplified what we believe at Points of Light to be the core of our mission – a belief that the most powerful force in the world is the individual who has realized their power to do good, and who applies their time, talent, and resources to make a positive difference.

Both men made deep sacrifices for their quest for civil rights and justice, including being jailed and beaten on multiple occasions. They were pioneers, leaders, heroes who believed in building a better world through peaceful demonstration.

Points of Light had the immense privilege of having both men joining a panel with Dr. Bernice King and Ambassador Andrew Young at our 2014 Points of Light Conference.

“You have to make the world you want,” said Rev. Vivian to our audience. “When we came along there wasn’t anything good about being Black in America. We changed it to what we wanted to be.”

Congressman Lewis reminded everyone that we have an obligation to take action.

“If you see something that is not right, or fair, or just, you must do something about it,” he shared.
Both truly believed in the power of youth. At our conference, Rev. Vivian said, “I want to talk positively about the youth… You decided who you are, what you’re going to do and who you’re going to become.”

Congressman Lewis not only inspired young people, but he was truly inspired by them. He touched my life when he wrote a recommendation letter for my goddaughter for college. She was a volunteer in the community, and he was always willing to support the next generations that were engaged in making their community better.

Rev. C.T. Vivian and Congressman Lewis’ life-long accomplishments are immeasurable, and led us to this moment in time when there is renewed momentum to continue the work. Let their legacies serve to inspire us to live fully civically engaged lives and to make the world a more just and equitable place for all.

Points of Light Launches Points of Light Engage, the World’s Largest Digital Hub for Volunteering and Community Engagement

Global nonprofit Points of Light announced today the launch of Points of Light Engage, the world’s largest digital hub for volunteering and community engagement opportunities. Engage builds upon the technology and partnerships established through the All For Good initiative, which launched in 2008. The new service will serve as the organization’s premier volunteer platform. 

“We are incredibly excited to launch Points of Light Engage, which continues our mission to inspire, equip and mobilize people to take action that changes the world,” said Natalye Paquin, president and CEO, Points of Light. “Now more than ever, people are looking for ways to use their voice, time, talents and passion. The upgrades we’ve made to the platform’s search and discovery functions will make it that much easier to connect individuals with the causes they care about the most.”

The volunteer opportunity catalog that powers Engage is curated through integrations with over 40 partnering digital platforms and websites including Points of Light Global Network affiliates, AARP, AmeriCorps and local United Ways. By aggregating data from these partners daily, Engage represents a dynamic and diverse collection of 300,000 unique opportunities to volunteer with over 70,000 nonprofit organizations, schools, and other local agencies offered every year. 

Engage will help new volunteers and supporters discover and engage with Points of Light’s nonprofit partners, allowing people to explore and get involved in the most high-impact and personally-fulfilling actions for social good in their local communities.

Points of Light also offers partnership opportunities through Engage by supporting search widgets and full-service website implementations to organizations, brands and media groups that desire to offer a volunteer call to action for their audiences. For more information on these opportunities, please contact us.   

About Points of Light
Points of Light is a global nonprofit organization that inspires, equips and mobilizes millions of people to take action that changes the world. We envision a world in which every individual discovers the power to make a difference, creating healthy communities in vibrant, participatory societies. Through affiliates in 200 cities across 37 countries, and in partnership with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages 5 million volunteers in 14 million hours of service each year. We bring the power of people to where it’s needed most. For more information, go to www.pointsoflight.org.

More than 700 Corporate Responsibility and Philanthropy Leaders Convene to Advance Racial Equity

To accelerate the progress and impact of business efforts to address racial equity, Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals (ACCP), Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose (CECP), The Council on Foundations, and Points of Light collaborated to host a two-day conference titled, “Racial Equity: Moving Companies from Promise to Action.” 

Designed for corporate social responsibility (CSR) and philanthropy leaders and their cross-functional colleagues from across lines of business, the event brought together diverse perspectives from thought leaders representing academia, business, nonprofits, and philanthropy. Attendees listened to voices in the movement for racial equity, learned what peer companies are doing, identified actions to advance corporate anti-racism commitments, and framed strategies for sector accountability in a supportive community. 

Key take-aways from the event included:

• Ending 400 years of systemic racism will be a journey, not a quick fix. Companies and leaders have to approach this movement for change with grace – requiring an open heart and willingness to accept criticism.  
• Employees are an important litmus test. Listen to and act on the feedback provided by employee resource groups. Companies must learn from their employees’ lived experiences and perceptions.
• Companies cannot separate themselves from the communities in which they operate.  Real progress will come from showing up authentically, building trust, and taking cues from what the community says it needs.
• Corporate leaders should unlock change. Progress at a company occurs when CEOs commit to creating space for conversation, taking action, and owning and leading measurable change within their company. Diversity in boards of directors and senior leadership teams can hold companies accountable and strengthen the business outcomes from addressing racial equity. 
• Businesses know how to build markets and advocate for laws and regulations. They now must apply that same imagination and their capacity for innovation to address systemic racism.

Speakers represented a cross-section of disciplines, including Ana Marie Argilagos, President and CEO, Hispanics in Philanthropy; Susan Taylor Batten, President and CEO, ABFE: A Philanthropic Partnership for Black Communities; Liz Dozier, Founder and CEO, Chicago Beyond; Lisa Hamilton, President and CEO, Annie E. Casey Foundation; Fagan Harris, President & CEO, Baltimore Corps; Michael McAfee, CEO, PolicyLink; Marcus Owens, Executive Director, African American Leadership Forum; Edgar Villanueva, Founder and Chief Strategist, Decolonizing Wealth Project; Darren Walker, President, Ford Foundation; Joan Williams, Distinguished Professor and Director, Center for WorkLife Law, University of California, Hastings Law; and representatives from the National Millennial & GenZ Community; as well as corporate leaders who are framing change efforts inside their organizations.

Sessions were geared toward CSR, corporate philanthropy, human resources, and diversity, equity, and inclusion professionals, as well as C-Suite leaders and cross-organization executives. The agenda, speakers, and content for this convening received feedback from an independent review panel of experts from many sectors so the event could inform and guide both racial equity practice and decisions for corporate leaders. The focus of the content was to elevate voices in the community, with opportunities for attendees to assess and test their companies’ paths forward with peers.

“Earlier this year, corporations of all types and sizes made important declarations against systemic racism and commitments to advance racial equity within their organizations and in the communities they support,” said Carolyn Berkowitz, President & CEO, ACCP.  “The information shared over the past two days provided much-needed dialogue and guidance to begin shaping sustainable action plans. ACCP is proud to have been part of this collaboration and we look forward to leaning into our own commitment to racial equity both internally and as we serve our members.” 

“Decades of pledges from corporations and institutions to make real changes against systemic racism in the U.S. have gone unfulfilled. The confluence of Covid-19 and the continued brutality against and inequitable opportunities for people of color have pushed our country and communities to demand more now,” said Kari Niedfeldt-Thomas, Managing Director, CECP. “This event was designed to challenge corporate leaders to think and show up differently in their work so they reimagine new, authentic actions to unravel racism in their companies and serve as beacons of justice. My thanks to all participants and their companies for their humility, vulnerability, and willingness to join this movement.” 

“In the reckoning with racial injustice, corporate philanthropy leaders are realizing the fundamental shifts and long-term commitments necessary to unlock their contribution to the promise of racial equity,” said Kathleen Enright, President and CEO, Council on Foundations. “The Council on Foundations and our partners in this event stand ready to support their work so that together we can change the systems that advantage some and disadvantage others and instead work toward an America where everyone thrives.”

“Systemic racism impacts all of us. Inequities in systems are built and dismantled one decision at a time. But when we listen, learn and take action, we have the power to dismantle those systems too — one decision at a time,” said Natalye Paquin, president & CEO, Points of Light. “It is our belief that every action matters. This conference brought the best thinking from academia, nonprofits, and philanthropy to those change-makers inside of companies who wanted to have difficult conversations about racism in a framework that would allow them to gain understanding and learn how to take action that is accountable and impactful.”

This event builds upon collaborative work that started when the Covid-19 pandemic hit in the spring of 2020. During that time, ACCP, CECP, Council on Foundations, and Points of Light came together to support leaders of corporate purpose in acting with courage and determination to respond to the compounding health and economic crises.  

Throughout a Corporate Peer Discussion series co-hosted by the four partner organizations, many companies emphasized the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on communities of color and considered how to redirect their strategies to focus on more equitable outcomes. The urgency of the moment was amplified after the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent national movement for racial justice. This virtual event, “Racial Equity: Moving Companies from Promise to Action”, is a continuation of the partnership and intends to support and equip companies with the knowledge and insights to progress on their journeys. 

The conference organizers thank its sponsors for making the event possible: Bank of America, Charles Schwab, KPMG, and USAA. 

For media inquiries, please contact Jackie Albano ([email protected]). 

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ABOUT ASSOCIATION OF CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP PROFESSIONALS (ACCP)

The Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals is the membership association for companies with a commitment to corporate citizenship, and a career-long resource for purpose-driven professionals. ACCP nurtures a vibrant community where corporate citizenship professionals feel supported and valued, where complex problems can be solved, and where members challenge each other to build better outcomes for their employees, their communities, their consumers, and the world. ACCP connects its members through a host of in-person and virtual peer networking opportunities.  ACCP challenges its community through educational offerings, thought leadership, benchmarking data, and relevant tools and information.  ACCP champions the corporate citizenship profession and the important work its members do every day. Learn more at www.accp.org.

ABOUT CHIEF EXECUTIVES FOR CORPORATE PURPOSE (CECP)

Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose® (CECP) is a CEO-led coalition that believes that a company’s social strategy—how it engages with key stakeholders including employees, communities, investors, and customers—determines company success. Founded in 1999 by actor and philanthropist Paul Newman and other business leaders to create a better world through business, CECP has grown to a movement of more than 200 of the world’s largest companies that represent $11.2 trillion in revenues, $23 billion in total community investments, 14 million employees, 30 million hours of employee engagement, and $21 trillion in assets under management. CECP helps companies transform their social strategy by providing customized connections and networking, counsel and support, benchmarking and trends, and awareness building and recognition. For more information, visit http://cecp.co.   

ABOUT THE COUNCIL ON FOUNDATIONS

The Council on Foundations exists to help philanthropy be a trusted partner in advancing the greater good. Building on our 70-year history, we are charting a course where funders earn and maintain the public’s trust by advancing equity, operating with high integrity, collaborating on broadscale challenges and serving as ethical stewards. Learn more about the Council and becoming a member by visiting, http://cof.org. 

ABOUT POINTS OF LIGHT

Points of Light is a global nonprofit organization that inspires, equips and mobilizes millions of people to take action that changes the world. We envision a world in which every individual discovers the power to make a difference, creating healthy communities in vibrant, participatory societies. Through affiliates in 200 cities across 37 countries, and in partnership with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages 5 million volunteers in 14 million hours of service each year. We bring the power of people to bear where it’s needed most. For more information, go to www.pointsoflight.org. 

Points of Light Announces New Leadership for the Points of Light Global Network Affiliate Assembly

Global nonprofit Points of Light is pleased to announce the appointment of two leadership positions within the Points of Light Global Network Affiliate Assembly. Sue Toomey, executive director of HandsOn Hong Kong, will serve as chair with Vanessa Diamond, senior vice president, civic innovations at Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond, serving as vice-chair.

The Points of Light Global Network is made up of innovative volunteer-mobilizing organizations located in more than 200 cities and 37 countries around the world. The Affiliate Assembly is the representative body of the network, providing a structure of engagement to promote collaboration and support seamless co-creation across critical strategic objectives.

“We are delighted to have Sue and Vanessa serve as chair and vice-chair of the Points of Light Global Network Affiliate Assembly,” said Natalye Paquin, president and CEO, Points of Light. “Our affiliates work to solve the most pressing issues of their communities around the world. Their leadership and expertise will help strengthen our network and move our work forward.”

Toomey has more than 20 years of experience running businesses and championing global causes. As executive director for HandsOn Hong Kong, her focus is developing the strategic direction and leading the team to mobilize and empower the community to volunteer. In 2017, she oversaw the development and launch of Serve-a-thon, Hong Kong’s first community service marathon where thousands of volunteers gave their time to serve more than 15,000 of Hong Kong’s most in need.

“I’ve already gained and learned so much through my involvement on the assembly, just as HandsOn Hong Kong has as a Points of Light Global Network affiliate,” said Toomey. “Now I’m looking forward to seeing how I can give back and support this incredible network of global affiliates as we navigate the road ahead, knowing how much stronger we are together.”

As senior vice president of civic innovations, Diamond convenes a coalition of community organizations, business leaders, institutions of higher education and government entities to help create a better ecosystem for civic engagement across the region. She also leads the Civic Innovations team in creating opportunities for people to learn about and engage with the Greater Richmond community, empowering individuals to give back with their time and voice in ways that feel meaningful and generate the most impact.

“Points of Light and our Global Network have a unique role in connecting individuals, families, companies and faith-based groups to meaningful ways to engage in their communities,” said Diamond. “The power of sharing ideas and resources help each of us support civic action in our own communities that in turn builds a movement across the globe.”

Affiliate Assembly members serve a three-year term.

About Points of Light

Points of Light is a global nonprofit organization that inspires, equips and mobilizes millions of people to take action that changes the world. We envision a world in which every individual discovers the power to make a difference, creating healthy communities in vibrant, participatory societies. Through affiliates in 200 cities across 37 countries, and in partnership with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages 5 million volunteers in 14 million hours of service each year. We bring the power of people to bear where it’s needed most. For more information, go to www.pointsoflight.org.

Points of Light Partners with Morehouse College in Social Justice Initiative to Fight Systemic Racism

Global nonprofit Points of Light is partnering with Morehouse College, the nation’s only historically black college focused on educating men, to launch “Listen. Learn. Act to End Racism,” a new initiative designed to empower businesses, nonprofits and individuals to use their influence to fight against systemic racism.

In cooperation with leading experts, Listen. Learn. Act to End Racism will host a series of virtual and in-person community forums that will feature leaders in the racial equity movement, partnering organizations, grassroots organizers and everyday people who have experienced racism and are fighting against injustice. Each community conversation will provide strategies for taking action and resources for deeper learning so that participants can have the tools necessary to launch effective social issue campaigns in their communities.

The first conversation titled, “Moving Forward: Taking Action on Race and Equity,” will take place on Thursday, Nov. 19 at 1 p.m. ET. This discussion will be moderated by Points of Light president and CEO Natalye Paquin with special guests, Dr. Bernice A. King, CEO of The King Center; Michael Smith, executive director of My Brother’s Keeper Alliance and Frederick J. Riley, executive director of the Aspen Institute’s Weave: The Social Fabric Project. This event will serve as the official kick off for the monthly forums.

“Points of Light values inclusivity, diversity and equality, and we stand with people who are taking action for a more just and equitable world. Systemic racism is a threat to democracy and impacts all of us,” said Natalye Paquin, president & CEO, Points of Light. “Inequities in systems are built and dismantled one decision at a time. Now more than ever, people from all walks of life are showing their readiness to create a more just society and dismantle systems that perpetuate racism, but often don’t know where to start. It is our belief that every action matters, that civic engagement takes many forms, and engagement is essential to advancing causes that improve society for everyone.”

Morehouse College is partnering with Points of Light in the initiative because it aligns with the institution’s mission to develop leaders who can change the world. As the national epicenter for thought leadership on civil rights, Morehouse is committed to helping the nation address the inequities caused by institutional racism, which have created disparities in income, employment, health, housing and educational opportunities for people of African descent.

“Morehouse College is deeply involved in the global fight for social justice,” said David A. Thomas, president of Morehouse College. “Our students have led peaceful anti-racism marches on city streets across the nation, and our alumni are continuing to use their influence in their industries and within the U.S. Congress to fight against a system of laws and behavior that have kept Black and brown people marginalized, underpaid and unemployed.”

“The movement needs more allies as the nation faces two pandemics—COVID-19 and the persistence of systemic racism, both of which disproportionately threaten the lives and livelihoods of Black people. This initiative will help us build strength in diverse numbers so that the nation can eventually achieve Martin Luther King Jr.’s multicultural dream of a Beloved Community.”

The goal of the Listen. Learn. Act to End Racism initiative is to help provide a forum in which people can begin difficult conversations about racism in a framework that will allow them to gain understanding and learn how to take action that is accessible and impactful in their local communities. As an ally, Points of Light will support in solidarity people of color by providing resources approved by leading experts that can advance their networks, capacity and professional development.

For more information about Listen. Learn. Act to End Racism and to learn about upcoming events, resources and ways to get engaged, please visit www.pointsoflight.org/listen-learn-act-to-end-racism/.

About Points of Light
Points of Light is a global nonprofit organization that inspires, equips and mobilizes millions of people to take action that changes the world. We envision a world in which every individual discovers the power to make a difference, creating healthy communities in vibrant, participatory societies. Through affiliates in 200 cities across 37 countries, and in partnership with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages 5 million volunteers in 14 million hours of service each year. We bring the power of people to bear where it’s needed most. For more information, go to www.pointsoflight.org.

About Morehouse College
Morehouse College is the only historically Black college focused on educating men. Founded in 1867, the College is the nation’s top producer of Black men who go on to receive doctorates. Morehouse is also the top producer of Rhodes Scholars among HBCUs, with five Morehouse Men receiving the honor. The College was recently named on the list of U.S. institutions that produced the most 2019-20 Fulbright Scholars, the nation’s flagship international educational exchange program. Prominent alumni include: Martin Luther King Jr., Nobel Peace Prize Laureate; Dr. David Satcher, former U.S. Surgeon General; Shelton “Spike” Lee, award-winning American filmmaker; Maynard H. Jackson, the first African American mayor of Atlanta; and Jeh Johnson, former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security. Morehouse currently has more than 17,000 alumni in 14 countries. For more information, visit: https://morehouse.edu.

About The King Center
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (The King Center) is a 501(c) (3) organization established in 1968 by Mrs. Coretta Scott King. The King Center is the official living memorial and programmatic nonprofit organization committed to educating the world on the life, legacy, and nonviolent teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The King Center is committed to preparing global citizens to utilize the principles and strategies of Nonviolence (Nonviolence365) to create a more just, humane and peaceful world.

About My Brother’s Keeper Alliance
President Obama launched My Brother’s Keeper in February 2014 to address persistent opportunity gaps facing boys and young men of color and to ensure all youth can reach their full potential. In 2015 the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance (MBK Alliance) was launched, inspired by My Brother’s Keeper, to scale and sustain this mission. In late 2017, MBK Alliance became an initiative of the Obama Foundation. Within the Obama Foundation, MBK Alliance focuses on building safe and supportive communities for boys and young men of color where they feel valued and have clear pathways to opportunity.

About Aspen Institute’s Weave: The Social Fabric Project
Weave: The Social Fabric Project describes and amplifies the work of those strengthening the social fabric of their communities. We connect these Weavers, provide access to resources, open doors to influencers, and inspire new generations of Weavers. We envision a nation of Weavers brimming with deep, healthy connections, where mutual trust and affection is the standard, equity is implicit, and all people find joy and meaning in daily life.

Media Inquiries:

Meghann Gibbons, VP of Marketing & Communications; 404-731-2673; [email protected] 

D. Aileen Dodd, Director of PR & Communications; 404-735-6736; [email protected]