Washington, DC - Eighteen American professionals working through the Washington, DC-based, nonprofit aid organization, Health Volunteers Overseas (HVO), have earned the President’s Call to Service Award, in recognition of 4,000+ hours of international voluntary service, the equivalent of 2 years of full time service.

Jack Hawkins, director of the Office of Volunteers for Prosperity, U.S. Agency for International Development, presented the award to recipients at HVO’s 20th anniversary celebration on September 30th.  “HVO is a leading partner of ours, and these eighteen Americans inspire their fellow citizens with selfless dedication and commitment to helping others around the world, “said Hawkins.  The list of award winners is attached.

Volunteers for Prosperity (VfP) is a presidential initiative that promotes international voluntary service by skilled American professionals.  Service through VfP is flexible, with assignments ranging from a week to months or even years.  Volunteers work under the direction of private voluntary organizations in activities that support the U.S. government’s agenda for global health and prosperity.  More than 200 organizations, including Health Volunteers Overseas, have joined the VfP network since it was established by President Bush on September 25, 2003 through executive order.

“These recipients of the President’s Call to Service Award are role models for all Americans,” said Dr. David Frost, Chair of the HVO Board of Directors.  “Each volunteer hour contributed makes a difference in improving the quality of life for others, and I encourage everyone to contribute to our global community by volunteering. Volunteers through their commitment bring us closer to both our local and global communities.”

Doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals earned the prestigious award for service in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. The recipients of the award helped equip local health workers with the skills and knowledge necessary to combat sicknesses and injuries within their communities through clinical training and education programs in child health, primary care, trauma and rehabilitation, essential surgical care, oral health, infectious disease, nursing education and burn management.

Health Volunteers Overseas is a private, non-profit membership organization, founded to improve global health through education. In resource-poor nations overseas, HVO trains, mentors and provides critical professional support to health care providers.  Since 1986 HVO has placed over 3,600 highly trained and dedicated health care professionals to fulfill over 5,000 volunteer assignments in 43 countries.   For more information visit http://www.hvousa.org.

Volunteers for Prosperity was established by Executive Order in September 2003.  VfP works with leading U.S. non-profits and companies to deploy highly skilled American professionals in volunteer opportunities that support the global health and prosperity goals of the U.S. Government.  VfP is part of the USA Freedom Corps, the White House’s coordinating council on volunteerism.  The VfP Office at the US Agency for International Development serves as the initiative’s interagency coordinator.  For more information, please visit http://www.volunteersforprosperity.gov.

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