The nation is approaching the first anniversary of the passage of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, the most comprehensive and expansive service legislation since Franklin Roosevelt's Presidency.

In celebration of this Act that is changing the face of volunteerism in America, and in honor of the legacy of Senator Kennedy, University of Phoenix and HandsOn Network will recognize 10 outstanding volunteer leaders who motivate others and are true catalysts for change in their communities.

The public will nominate volunteer leaders for the University of Phoenix Volunteer Leader Award. Finalists will be selected by a diverse panel of judges and will be honored during National Volunteer Week. An important qualification for the nominees is that they exemplify the ideals of Senator Kennedy: leadership, vision, creativity and generosity. These nominees are the next generation of leaders and agents for positive change in the world.

Nine of the 10 finalists will be awarded $10,000 to donate to the nonprofit organizations of their choice. The top honoree will receive $15,000 to donate and will be recognized at the first-ever LEAD - A Get HandsOn! Summit. This innovative all-day gathering of volunteer leaders, presented by University of Phoenix and HandsOn Network, will take place at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. on April 20 during National Volunteer Week.

Nominations for the University of Phoenix Leader Award are open online through March 10, 2010. To be eligible for this award, nominees must have been engaged in service as a volunteer leader for at least two years and made a great impact in the community. The nomination form is available at www.handsonnetwork.org/volunteeraward.

By celebrating these inspirational leaders, the organizations hope that others will be motivated to serve in their communities.

About HandsOn Network
HandsOn Network, the volunteer-focused arm of Points of Light Institute, is the largest volunteer network in the nation and includes more than 250 HandsOn Action Centers that reach more than 83% of the nation's population and extend to ten countries. HandsOn includes a powerful network of more than 70,000 corporate, faith and nonprofit organizations that are answering the call to serve and creating scaled impact. In 2008, the network delivered approximately 30 million hours of volunteer service valued at $615 million. For more information, visit handsonnetwork.org.

About University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help students balance education and life in a rapidly changing world. Through flexible schedules, challenging courses and interactive learning, students achieve personal and career aspirations without putting their lives on hold. During the quarter ending November 30, 2009, 455,600 students were enrolled at University of Phoenix, the largest private university in North America. University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering associate's, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs from campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online throughout the world.

Points of Light

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 145 affiliates across 39 countries, and in partnership with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages 3.7 million volunteers in 16.7 million hours of service each year, contributing $498.7 million of value in people power into communities around the world. We bring the power of people to bear where it’s needed most. To learn more about Points of Light visit pointsoflight.org. 

Partnering with Points of Light means you’ll have the expertise and support you need to mobilize your colleagues and create community impact using all aspects of civic engagement. We've helped companies with a variety of needs including implementing large-scale employee volunteer events, tackling your larger social impact vision, expanding how you engage communities and consumers, infusing new ideas to your annual employee engagement programs, connecting with peers to bring the latest and greatest ideas on impact measurement, and getting company leadership investment and buy-in. Learn more today.

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