Nominate outstanding volunteers

Volunteerism and community service are an integral part of each and every community. Alaskans are especially generous in their commitment to service. According to the Corporation for National and Community Service’s (CNCS) 2009 report, Alaska ranks second in the nation per capita in volunteer hours, with over 28 million hours served and a total of 189,000 volunteers serving throughout our state.

To honor hard-working volunteers, I am pleased to partner with Serve Alaska, the state’s service commission, in announcing the 2010 First Lady’s Volunteer of the Year Awards.

I invite all Alaskans to nominate a person or group who has made a significant impact through volunteer service. Categories for this award include Lifetime Achievement, Military/Veteran, Senior, Youth, Family, Faith-based and Business, as well as a category for AmeriCorps members.

A link to the nomination forms can be found on the governor’s website at www.gov.state.ak.us. Nominations are due Monday. A luncheon honoring the award recipients will be at the Governor’s House in Juneau on May 7.

In conjunction with honoring our neighbors, the awards will kick off AmeriCorps Week, beginning May 8-15. Volunteer opportunities will be available throughout the state, including Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and Sitka, as well as numerous villages participating through their local AmeriCorps members. Volunteer opportunities for AmeriCorps Week will be posted at www.servealaska.alaska.gov. I encourage you to find a project in your area and enjoy volunteering together.

I want to thank the Alaskans in every community who are giving back through service. Please help me highlight their extraordinary efforts by nominating them for the First Lady’s Volunteer of the Year Awards.

Sandy Parnell is Alaska’s First Lady.