Respected throughout the community for their holistic and deep commitment to making a difference, the impact of Highlands Fellowship can be felt through their fierce love for those most vulnerable in Southwest Virginia. Over 2,500 individuals have been mobilized to act as catalysts throughout the community, partnering to expand the breadth and depth of available resources to serve youth and families in foster care and kinship care networks. Their continually evolving wraparound approach has made a far-reaching and long-lasting impact by building relationships, strengthening systems, and inspiring others in the community to take action. Highlands Fellowship is recognized as an...

Clifford Yee is a member and former chair of the Governor’s Advisory Board on Service and Volunteerism as well as the treasurer and former chair of the Virginia Service Foundation. He reflects, "I began serving on the Governor’s Advisory Board on Service and Volunteerism in 2020 to deepen my commitment to civic engagement, eventually having the honor of chairing the Board from 2022-2024. One of the most rewarding aspects was working closely with staff to develop a new strategic plan, which included launching the Serve Virginia brand and the statewide Volunteer Honor Roll to better amplify volunteerism across the Commonwealth....

AmeriCorps member Frank Lott has not allowed the current COVID-19 pandemic to stop him from serving his community. As an AmeriCorps member at CARITAS AmeriCorps, Frank provides essential community services as well as support for clients in their recovery and assistance with developing workforce readiness. Frank started his training to become a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist in January as a part of his service.   When COVID hit, Frank dove into alternate service activities by training with and taking calls for 2-1-1 VIRGINIA. Volunteers have been very successful in providing information and resources to thousands of individuals in need. Because...

Congratulations to HERO Club of Amherst County High School - winner of the 2020 Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Award for Outstanding Educational Institution! When Amherst County High School student Alannah Wilson started the HERO (Helping Everyone Reach Out) Club four years again, she never dreamed the ripple effect it would have. She founded the student-led organization during her freshman year with a two-fold goal: answering people's questions about disabilities and how those disabilities affect people, and facilitating self-determination and self-advocacy. The club has grown to 30 volunteers, both students and their family members, annually. Membership is comprised of students...

Camp Holiday Trails (CHT) is a nonprofit camp located in Charlottesville, Virginia, dedicated to creating an empowering camp experience for children and teens with medical needs. Since its founding in 1974, CHT has relied on the exceptional contributions of volunteers to fulfill its mission. Central to this mission is the volunteer Medical Team, known at Camp as the "Med Team"—a group of physicians, nurses, students, and other healthcare professionals who provide expert care in a dynamic and inclusive camp environment. In summer 2024 alone, 68 medical volunteers donated their time and expertise, contributing to the safety and well-being of campers...

Matt Mooneyham found out about AmeriCorps VISTA from a conversation with his father, who shared that one of his coworker's sons did AmeriCorps after college and really enjoyed it. He recalls, "I decided to serve because I have always really enjoyed serving people, I also thought it would be a good opportunity to develop myself personally and professionally." In his current term, Matt is serving with Bay Aging, an organization providing programs and services people of all ages need to live independently in their communities. Matt engages with community members and supports Bay Aging's Regional Resilience and Equity Workgroup. He...