Recently volunteer Fire Chief John Morrison of Vienna was named the Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year by the International Association of Fire Chiefs. John was instrumental in the development of a Volunteer Management System uniting all 12 Fairfax County volunteer fire departments into a single portal to share resources, metrics and information.   The IAFC has honored one volunteer and one career firefighter annually since 1996. The Fire Chief of the Year award goes to a person who has "shown exemplary contributions in the areas of leadership, innovation, professional development, integrity, public service, and contributions to the fire service,"...

Louisa County Public Schools (LCPS) is a beacon of excellence in a small-town, rural setting. LCPS serves as the cornerstone of the community, entrusted with the vital task of educating the youth of Louisa County. Committed to preparing students for a rapidly changing world, LCPS serves students in four elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. The school division's dedication to academic excellence extends to include volunteerism and community service, positively impacting the lives of people across the county.   Between July 2022 and June 2023, more than 200 students and 100 staff members participated in a clean-up initiative,...

Congratulations to Capital One Coders of Richmond - winner of the 2021 Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Award for Outstanding Corporation! Capital One Coders grew out of an idea that was sparked in 2014 by a Capital One staff member who saw a gap in computer training in K-12 classrooms. The company created Capital One Coders to inspire students from all walks of life to consider computer science as an attainable and exciting career path. In partnership with public schools and other youth-serving nonprofits, the program helps middle school students cultivate a greater interest in computer science during a critical...

Comprised of medical and public health professionals serving alongside interested non-medical community members, the Virginia Beach Medical Reserve Corps (VBMRC) shares skills, expertise, and time to support public health initiatives and respond to health emergencies throughout Virginia Beach. Established in 2002, the VBMRC is organized locally through the Virginia Beach Department of Public Health to improve the health and safety of its community. More than doubling in size during the pandemic to support COVID-19 efforts for the city, the VBMRC unit of 1,817 general support and healthcare professional volunteers is an essential component of emergency efforts for the city of...

Clyde Roberts, Clinch Valley Community Action Agency Senior Corps – Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Volunteer of the Year - RSVP allows seniors to share their skills and talents while serving in a variety of volunteer activities.  Clyde Roberts has served more than 8,600 hours of service in his 14 years as an RSVP volunteer making a tremendous impact to countless veterans in his community. As an RSVP volunteer, he assists veterans with their day-to-day activities so that they may live independently in their homes. Mr. Roberts helps these veterans and their families with necessary paperwork needed for VA benefits, organize...

In Reston, Virginia, Robert Schnapp is the founder and leader of A Simple Gesture Reston, an effort that inspires and enables his community to help neighbors overcome the growing threat of hunger and food insecurity. Eight years ago, Bob realized that many donors work Monday through Friday “business hours” and that local pantries were mainly open for donations during those same hours, making it a challenge to donate. In the beginning, he served more than 40 hours a week to get the program off the ground, doing everything from signing up donors and drivers, to creating routes, sending emails, delivering...