Houston Food Bank Presents 2024 Presidential Volunteer Service Awards to Corporate Volunteers

Recently the Houston Food Bank honored its most outstanding corporate volunteers with the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA). A grand total of 193 corporations attended the three-day awards, founded in 2003 by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation to recognize the important role of volunteers in America’s strength and national identity. 

Honored at the awards were 193 organizations who donated an amazing total of 72,024.72 volunteer hours which facilitated 4,321,483 meals to our community. (Each volunteer hour is calculated with a meal-a-minute value for volunteer time.)

“Volunteers are the heart of Houston Food Bank’s mission, especially as we work alongside federal programs to ensure nutritious food reaches those who need it most,” says Brian Greene, president/CEO of Houston Food Bank.  “It is our volunteers who make large-scale distribution possible by assisting us with sorting and packing non-perishable foods and essentials and preparing meals for more than one million neighbors experiencing food insecurity in our 18-county service area.”

With recent funding cuts of $11 million, the dedication of Houston Food Bank’s volunteers will help maximize every federal and donor dollar, allowing the non-profit organization to serve more neighbors, more efficiently.

“Simply put, Houston Food Bank could not do this vital work without our dedicated volunteers,” adds Greene.

Hours donated for each award level, and the companies honored in each category:

GOLD:  A total of 31 organizations earned this 2024 award level with a total of 38,193.2 hours donated.  At a meal-a-minute value for volunteer time, these hours facilitated 2,291,592 meals.  

SILVER: A total of 51 organizations earned this 2024 award level with a total of 16,460.52 hours donated.  At a meal-a-minute value for volunteer time, these hours facilitated 987,631.2 meals. 

BRONZE:  A total of 111 organizations earned this 2024 award level with a total of 17,371 hours donated.  At a meal-a-minute value for volunteer time, these hours facilitated 1,042,260 meals. 

For the Gold awards, Houston Grand Opera performed at the beginning and end of the ceremony, and for all three of the award ceremonies, Bright Lights & Balloons donated amazing decorations and Houston Food Bank’s 535 Catering & Conference Center premiered three delicious appetizers from our new Executive Chef Axel Dirolf.

To participate in a corporate volunteer experience to begin to accumulate donated time for the 2025 President’s Volunteer Service Awards, please contact Kathy Lipman, corporate engagement senior manager, at [email protected].

For more information on Houston Food Bank program and ways to volunteer, visit HoustonFoodBank.org. 

Photos courtesy of Houston Food Bank; Featured photo: Gold winners