GivingPoint partners with schools to reward and recognize outstanding, dedicated seniors with Service Cords at graduation. Service Cords are donated by GivingPoint and given to qualified students at a celebration ceremony at each school, which must be scheduled at least two days prior to their graduation date.

Seniors who wish to achieve this honor and earn a Service Cord must meet certain criteria, which is determined by each individual school. For instance a public school in Fulton County requires a student to:
- Volunteer at least 75 hours
- Earn 1,000 Giving Points
- Apply for a GivingPoint grant

How It Works For Most Schools:

Step 1: Students create a STUDENT account and Schools create a NONPROFIT account on mygivingpoint.org

Step 2: Once on their profile page, students click “My Affiliated Nonprofits” and in the Search field, enter the school name.

Students must click “Join” and then “Connect” to be listed in the school’s tracking system. Once students affiliate with a school, that school will be able to view and track their students’ contributions.

Step 3: Students begin logging their contributions and earning points

WHAT TEENS CAN EARN FOR LEARNING, SERVING & SHARING THEIR VOICES

Complete Your GivingPoint Profile: 10 points
Volunteer Time: 5 points per hour
Volunteer Talent: 10 points per hour
Treasure: 1 point per every $10 fundraised through GivingPoint
Service Learning Quizzes: 10 points per quiz
Blog Entry: 5 points per entry (min 50 words)
Posting a Project: 25 points per project once approved
Inviting Friends to Join GivingPoint: 5 points for every friend that join
Affiliating With a Nonprofit: 5 points for every nonprofit
Posting Thank You Notes: 5 points for every posting

Students can log in their contributions through an online form on their GivingPoint profile page. The charity or agency where the student volunteered will receive an email with a link to verify and approve the volunteer hours. Students may enter any volunteer hours that were contributed from January 1, 2010 forward, as long as they can be verified by the nonprofits where they served.

Step 4: Students apply for GRANTS to support nonprofit projects

Once students reach 500 points, they can apply for a “micro grant” to support a nonprofit project of your choice. Grants range from $100 to $250, up to $1,000 per year. Please visit www.mygivingpoint.org/projects to view samples of the types of projects posted on mygivingpoint.org.

The more a student leverages GivingPoint’s tools and resources, the better their chances for getting the grant. Grant applications are judged and awarded by members of GivingPoint’s board of directors.

Students cannot write a grant or post a project that directly benefits them, another individual or a family. GivingPoint only approves grants that benefit the greater good and can be directly applied to a project that can bring measureable results. For more information on how students can apply and give grants, please visit http://www.mygivingpoint.org/reward/give-grants

We suggest that students apply for a grant 6 weeks before graduation, in order to allow GivingPoint time to review the grant request before graduation. Otherwise, students can apply at any time.

Step 5: View and download the Civic Transcript

A student, their parent and affiliated nonprofit contacts can view and download the student’s personalized Civic Transcript throughout their membership with GivingPoint. Most schools require seniors to turn in copies of their Civic Transcript and a copy of their grant application by May 1 in order to receive and wear Service Cords at graduation.

Step 6: Students are recognized for their service leadership and awarded their Service Cord

GivingPoint will personally deliver Service Cords to partnering schools in Atlanta, or mail them if schools are located outside the metro Atlanta area. GivingPoint prefers to personally meet and award the Service Cords to students at a celebration event, or integrate the awards into a graduation event. We look forward to seeing the many photos of students wearing their Service Cords during their graduation ceremony in honor of their commitment and dedication to service leadership.

For more information, please contact:

Mary Kathleen Johnson, GivingPoint’s Director of School Outreach at marykathleejohnson@gmail.com or call 404-405-2310

Resources:

About GivingPoint: http://www.mygivingpoint.org/about-us
School’s Profile Page on GivingPoint: http://www.mygivingpoint.org/nameofschool
GivingPoint’s FAQ at http://www.mygivingpoint.org/faqs-schools
GivingPoint’s training video at:
http://www.mygivingpoint.org/gp-training-tutorials/success-with-civic-tr...

The President's Volunteer Service Award

GivingPoint is honored to be a registered certifying organization for The President’s Volunteer Service Award. This prestigious national award recognizes Americans who are making a difference in the lives of others through volunteer service.

The President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) has been incorporated into GivingPoint’s Award System and is now available for participating GivingPoint students who complete the designated service hours within a 12 month period.

The President’s Volunteer Service Award gives Presidential recognition to students who have made a sustained commitment to volunteer service; and through GivingPoint’s on-line tracking system, it is easy!

What are the requirements?

When you complete 250 or more hours of service, you are eligible for a GOLD level President's Volunteer Service Award! Service hours must be completed within a 12 month period and should be recorded using GivingPoint’s on-line point tracking tool.

Though the President's Volunteer Service Reward recognition begins at 100 hours of service, due to administrative limitations, GivingPoint will only order your awards after 250 hours of service.  GivingPoint will pay for the complete package, which costs $3.00 per application plus shipping and handling. To do this, GivingPoint needs your home address.  Once you reach 250 hours of service, we will contact you via email to get your home address.

What are considered service hours?

Service hours are hours spent on the planning and implementation of any activity beneficial to the community. Students must log in their time and talent contributions in order to start earning enough points to be eligible.

 What is the Cost of the Award?

A complete package is $3.00 per application plus shipping and handling. GivingPoint will cover this cost for each student that reaches the President's Gold Level of 250 or more service hours!

Awarded recipients receive:

• An official President’s Volunteer Service Award pin
• A personalized certificate of achievement
• A note of congratulations from the President of the United States
• A letter from the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participant

To learn more about the PVSA award, please visit http://www.presidentialserviceawards.gov.

To learn more about GivingPoint’s PVSA application process, please contact webmaster@mygivingpoint.org.