Guidelines

​The President's Volunteer Service Award recognizes United States citizen or lawful
permanent resident of the United States (i.e., green card holder) who completed eligible service within a 12-month period. Recognizing individuals with Presidential honors carries the responsibility of full cooperation with the program criteria.  Tzu Chi Foundation is a certifying organization for the PVSA.

Award Structure

The award structure is designed to recognize individuals for their service throughout their volunteer journey. The structure is broken down by age and hourly  requirements with four different levels of achievement. Recognition may be given to an individual, group, or family for hours served within 12 months, or a lifetime of service for an individual. The chart below outlines the award structure.

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Eligibility requirements

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1. Be a United States citizen or a lawfully admitted permanent resident of the United States, which must be verified by the volunteer and the certifying organization..  Must provide one of the following as proof: Birth Certificate, Certificate of Naturalization, Permanent Resident Card (green card) or Passport.

2. Complete the required service hours within a 12-month time period before the official application day.

3. Age 12-year-old and older.

4. Be an active member of Tzu Chi Youth Association in good standing, and service hours only include attending Tzu Chi service learning classes and volunteer activities.​​​​

5. Tzu Chi Youth Association will accept service hours from Tzu Chi classes and activities, and not take hours transferred from other organizations.

6. Follow the Tzu Shao rules of Tzu Chi Youth Association, and be reviewed by Tzu Shao advisors and Tzu Chi Educational Development Department.

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Eligible Service does not include

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• Donating funds

• Political lobbying (Non-partisan voter registration is an eligible activity)

• Religious instruction

• Conducting worship service

• Proselytizing

• Volunteer service performed as part of court-ordered community service

• Serving only family members

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慈少志工必須具備以下資格

• 美國公民或美國合法永久居民（即綠卡持有人）

• 必須至少十二歲

• 在12個月內(年度銅獎、銀獎和金獎)和終生(終身成就獎)完成符合條件的服務

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不符合條件的服務​

• 捐贈資金

• 政治遊說（無黨派選民登記是一項符合條件的活動）

• 宗教教育

• 主持禮拜

• 傳教

• 作為法院命令的社區服務的一部分進行的志願者服務

• 只為家庭成員服務

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