For years, schools, nonprofits, and community organizations relied on the Presidential Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) to honor individuals who demonstrated extraordinary commitment to serving others. When the PVSA was placed on hold, many of the institutions we support through Helper Helper were left without a national way to recognize their volunteers’ impact. And for many of them, that recognition mattered — it motivated students to serve, helped organizations celebrate their culture of giving, and elevated stories of kindness and leadership that deserve to be seen.

Rather than let that gap remain, we decided to build a meaningful alternative that would be available or all organizations not just Helper Helper clients.

Today, we are excited to share that Helper Helper has officially launched the National Service Honor’s new website: nationalservicehonor.org. This is a dedicated home for national recognition of volunteer impact across the country.

The National Service Honor provides schools, organizations, and individuals with a trusted, accessible pathway to honor service, whether completed across a 12-month period or a lifetime. Rooted in the same values that have guided Helper Helper from the start, National Service Honor is designed to make recognizing impact simple, consistent, and truly special.

Why We Created the National Service Honor

When the PVSA paused, our inbox filled almost immediately.

School districts, colleges, youth programs, and community organizations asked the same question:

“How do we continue to honor our volunteers with a national award?”

For many of our longtime Helper Helper clients — especially those who integrated PVSA recognition into their culture — losing a national award left a void. They didn’t want a generic certificate. They wanted something that felt meaningful. Something that carried weight. Something volunteers could proudly include on college applications, scholarships, and job applications for years to come.

The National Service Honor fills that gap.

It:

• Recognizes service at a national level (letter, pin, certificate and option for medallion)

• Celebrates outstanding community ambassadors

• Honors hours completed within a 12-month period or across a lifetime

We built it with feedback organizations that had previously applied for the PVSA. And we ensured that it would be flexible, inclusive, and simple to administer, whether someone tracks hours through Helper Helper or not.

What Makes the National Service Honor Special

The National Service Honor is more than a certificate, it’s a platform for storytelling, recognition, and community pride.

Here’s what makes it meaningful:

📍 Nationally Recognized

Volunteers receive a formal award that acknowledges their service and can be shared on college applications, résumés, LinkedIn, or scholarship submissions.

🧒 Accessible to All Ages

Whether a student volunteers through a school, a family serves together at local nonprofits, or an adult gives back to their community — there is a pathway for recognition.

✅ Easy, Fair, and Clear Requirements

Hours can be tracked and verified in multiple ways (if you previously applied for the PVSA you can use the same method for tracking hours with the National Service Honor). If an organization uses Helper Helper, most of the work is already done.

🎖️ Designed to Be Celebrated

Awards arrive ready to present, making recognition ceremonies, assemblies, end-of-year events, or volunteer banquets feel truly special.

A Natural Extension of Our Mission

Helper Helper has always existed to make community engagement simpler, more meaningful, and more visible. For more than a decade, we’ve helped athletic departments, schools, companies, and nonprofits organize service, track impact, and celebrate the good happening in their communities.

Launching the National Service Honor is a natural next step.

By giving service a home for recognition, we’re reinforcing the value of giving back, not just as a requirement or activity, but as a lifelong mindset.

It also allows us to support more types of volunteers beyond the Helper Helper platform. Anyone can now earn a national honor, and we’re proud to provide that opportunity.

Already Seeing Momentum

Even in its early launch stage, interest in the National Service Honor has been overwhelming — especially from educators and service coordinators who previously relied on the PVSA. Many are relieved to have a credible, mission-aligned option again and are thrilled to recognize their volunteers. See below a the Michigan Lion Dance Recognizing their volunteers.

We’re hearing a recurring theme:
Recognition matters.

It reinforces purpose. It builds confidence. It encourages continued service. And it tells volunteers that what they do matters to someone beyond themselves.

As more stories come in, we look forward to highlighting the impact of these honorees and the organizations empowering them.

What’s Next

We will continue evolving the National Service Honor with:

• New recognition levels (like the lifetime achievement award)

• Spotlight stories of honorees

• Resources for schools and nonprofits to engage volunteers

And now that the website is live, it’s easier than ever to learn more, apply, or share the honor with your community.

📍 Explore the new site: nationalservicehonor.org