Join us in celebrating this year's honorees for the Governor’s Volunteerism & Community Service Awards! Governor Glenn Youngkin announced the ten honorees during a ceremony at the Executive Mansion on November 20, 2024, hosted by the Governor and First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin. Leaders from across Virginia gathered to recognize the contributions of these volunteers and celebrate the impact of their service.

These annual awards spotlight the outstanding volunteer efforts of individuals, organizations, and businesses, on behalf of Virginians across the Commonwealth. Recognizing exceptional community service for 30 years, the Governor’s Volunteerism & Community Service Awards are presented by the Office of the Governor, with the assistance of the Governor’s Advisory Board on Service & Volunteerism and Serve Virginia.  

The event program for the 2024 Awards is available here. Keep reading to learn more about this year's honorees...

Outstanding Youth Volunteer: Ashley Coulson  

Ashley Coulson served more than 115 hours in the past year with Y Street, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth's youth-led statewide initiative, where she helped lead the program’s Share the Air campaign and served on the Leadership Team and Executive Board. She was also active in school activities, including serving on Student Council. Read more >

Outstanding Young Adult Volunteer: Bezawit Getachew Mulatu

Bezawit Getachew Mulatu is a University of Richmond pre-med and pre-law student dedicated to improving lives and fostering inclusivity. She serves as a first responder with University of Richmond EMS and the Tuckahoe Volunteer Rescue Squad, conducts research on the realities faced by patients who are blind or have low vision, and was recognized as a Global School Advocate by the United Nations. Read more >

Outstanding Adult Volunteer: Alisa Thornton 

Alisa Thornton is the Chair of the Virginia Department of Social Services’ Parent Advisory Council and a kinship provider, parent advocate, and realtor. She received the 2023 recipient of the NAMI Virginia Hope Award and is a well-known speaker, sharing her experiences to offer hope and strength to families facing violence, mental health issues, and homelessness. Read more >

Outstanding Senior Volunteer: Mary Lee Di Spirito 

Mary Lee Di Spirito coordinates the Annandale Christian Community for Action furniture program, which she managed for decades with her husband, Don, who passed away earlier this year. She has volunteered with ACCA for more than thirty years, generously giving time and talents to the Annandale community, impacting countless local families. Read more >

Outstanding Independent Group: Michelle Smeltzer & Nichole Johns 

Michelle Smeltzer and Nichole Johns serve the community of Warren County, Virginia, through a variety of volunteer organizations, including as active members of the Board of Directors for the Hope and Rest Temporary Shelter. Together, Michelle and Nichole amassed close to 1,000 hours of community service in the past year, tirelessly advocating for and supporting their community's most vulnerable residents. Read more >

Outstanding Community Organization: Youth Education Program, Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia 

The Youth Education Program is a Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia team of certified Extension Master Gardeners that provides hands-on youth gardening education at nearly 20 local schools and youth organizations, serving approximately 1,400 hours in the past year. Read more >

Outstanding Educational Organization: ODU Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The ODU Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is an entrepreneurial accelerator dedicated to providing economic development to veterans and underserved or disadvantaged individuals, providing 4,055 thirty-minute counseling sessions in the past year, creating 498 new jobs, establishing 54 startup businesses, and enabling 76 contracts totaling $13 million. Read more >

Outstanding Faith-Based Organization: The Chapel 

The Chapel has physical locations throughout the greater Richmond area and a life-giving online community, including various outreach programs as well as worship services for those incarcerated at Chesterfield County Jail and in 42 state prisons in the Virginia Department of Corrections, supporting people while incarcerated and championing them in reentry.  Read more >

Outstanding Small Business: Notes n' Beats Music School

Notes n’ Beats Music School is an Ashburn-based music school that is committed to making a difference in the community by spreading the joy of music through small pop-up shows and raising funds with large-scale benefit events. They organized and performed in more than 15 pop-up shows in just a few months and raised more than $135,000 for various organizations over the last seven years. Read more >

Outstanding Corporation: Newport News Shipbuilding

Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), a division of HII, is a major employer in Hampton Roads with more than 26,000 shipbuilders. NNS gives back to the community by preparing underserved students for college through initiatives like STEM mentoring, career awareness programs, teacher internships, and experiential learning. NNS helps students build the foundational skills needed for careers in the maritime industry. Read more >

About the Governor's Volunteerism & Community Service Awards: These awards annually recognize the significant contributions of Virginia citizens to the life and welfare of the Commonwealth and its people. These outstanding award winners represent the millions of generous Virginians who offer their time and talents to others each year. The nominations are open from April through June annually. Learn more here.