Governor's Volunteer Service Award nominations due Feb. 15

Award recipients will be recognized during a special luncheon in Springfield

[February 02, 2013]  SPRINGFIELD -- The Serve Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service is accepting nominations for the fourth annual Governor's Volunteer Service Awards until Feb. 15. The awards recognize individual volunteers through a statewide award program to highlight the importance of volunteerism and community service in the state of Illinois.

Individual awards will be presented to one youth 18 years and under, one adult 19-54 years old, and one retiree or senior 55 years and older in each of the commission's five service regions across the state -- Northeast, Northwest, East Central, West Central and Southern. National Service Awards will be presented to one AmeriCorps and one Senior Corps member in each of the five regions. One award will be provided to a business in each of the five service regions. Within each category, applications will be given special priority based on these subject areas: economic opportunity, education, environmental conservation, disaster preparedness and response, health, and veterans affairs.

Visit www.serve.illinois.gov for the nomination forms and more information.

Nominations are due to Serve Illinois by Feb. 15. Award recipients will be selected and notified by March 30. The Serve Illinois Commission will host a luncheon to honor recipients on April 18 at the executive mansion in Springfield.

The Serve Illinois Commission is a 40-member bipartisan board appointed by the governor and administered by the Illinois Department of Human Services. Its mission is to improve Illinois communities by enhancing traditional volunteer activities and supporting national service programs, including the Illinois AmeriCorps program.

[Text from Illinois Department of Human Services file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]