At 20 years old, Esha has already built a global movement rooted in kindness, equity, and service. As co-founder and COO of NEST4US, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit she launched at age ten, Esha leads a network of more than 8,000 volunteers working across five core programs to address hunger, poverty, education, mental health, and sustainability. What began as a small family project has evolved into an international organization that has donated over 300,000 meals, delivered millions of dollars’ worth of resources, and empowered more than 100,000 youth worldwide. Through NEST4US programs including NEST Nurtures, NEST Tutors, NEST Kares, NEST Buddies, and...

Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling Company supports community initiatives in Arlington and Alexandria, Virginia, sponsoring fundraising events and providing meals for charitable organizations. Their commitment to service is reflected in their partnerships with local nonprofits, schools, and community groups, aiming to enhance life for all Virginia residents. Over the years, Rocklands has developed a long-standing relationship with prominent organizations such as PathForward, Doorways for Women and Families, and the D.C. Firefighters Burn Foundation. Rocklands was the recipient of the Distinguished Corporate Service Award by Volunteer Arlington in 2024, recognizing the company for their community efforts in raising tens of thousands of...

2024 Governor's Volunteerism & Community Service Award honoree Notes n' Beats Music School is an Ashburn-based music school that teaches instruments and voice in Western and Indian styles of music. The owner, staff, students, and parents of Notes n' Beats Music School are 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.   Veena Pandiri, the school’s...

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...

Gina De Naples, an AmeriCorps member serving with Virginia State Parks in York River State Park, has never allowed being hearing impaired to make a difference in how she has approached life and her commitment to service! Gina, a native of Greensboro, NC, served this year on the Virginia State Parks AmeriCorps Interpretive Trail Project. She received support of interpreters through the combined efforts of the Virginia State Parks (which operates within the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation), the Office of Volunteerism and Consumer Services (which operate within the Virginia Department of Social Services), and the Virginia Division for...

During a recent service project in Fredericksburg, Virginia, the AmeriCorps NCCC Coast 2 Team worked with the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank, a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing hunger in the Central Rappahannock River Region by distributing millions of pounds of food annually. However, the team's main assignment did not involve food distribution. Instead, the team assisted in renovating and creating the Market Fresh area of the food bank’s warehouse, where community partners pick up food for later distribution to those in need.   The Coast 2 Team’s primary task was to clean and visually enhance the Market Fresh space, aiming...