MLK Drum Majors for Service
“Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice; say that I was a drum major for peace; I was a drum major for righteousness… We all have the drum major instinct.”
Excerpt from The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "Drum Major Instinct" sermon, given on February 4, 1968.
MLK Drum Majors for Service are volunteers who perform extraordinary everyday acts of service with reliability and commitment, but who seldom receive recognition. Service is called by a variety of names. To some it may be outreach; to others, it may be mission driven; to still others, it may be volunteerism, ministry, or even regarded as a calling—but no matter what you call it, there are many Americans who serve every day, every month, every year through faith-based organizations and as volunteers for community groups, addressing a variety of unmet critical needs.
Now you can recognize extraordinary volunteers who are MLK Drum Majors for Service with a special Presidents Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) called the Drum Major for Service Award.
There are two recognition options with this award:
- MLK Drum Major for Service This award option is based on the qualities of the person nominated for the award. Drum Majors for Service are the helping hands who perform extraordinary everyday acts of service with reliability and commitment, but who seldom receive recognition. They are individuals within your organization who are service leaders in the community. With this option your Drum Major is eligible to receive a special PVSA certificate and letter from the President of the United States. Package cost is $3.75 plus shipping and handling.
- MLK Drum Major for Service PVSA This award option is based on the number of hours an individual serves over a 12 month period or over a lifetime. With this package, your Drum Major is eligible to receive the PVSA pin in Bronze, Silver, Gold or Lifetime depending on the numbers of hours served as described below, as well as a special PVSA certificate and a letter from the President of the United States. Package costs range from $2.00 to $4.75 each, depending on the items selected, plus shipping and handling.
As you plan your MLK Day activity – whether a service project, holiday celebration or prayer breakfast, we encourage you to honor those who serve others to reinforce the lessons of Dr. King's life by including the presentation of Drum Major for Service Awards.
Order Your Award
In order to receive your award by MLK Day at regular rates, order your award early. Prices range from $2.00 to 4.75 each, depending on the items selected, plus shipping and handling. Rush orders (additional $25 shipping fee applies) accepted.
Share Your MLK Drum Major for Service Story
The Corporation for National and Community Service would like to know about your Drum Majors. Please take a few minutes to tell us about the person you plan to honor and what they have accomplished through their service, e-mail us at MLKDay@cns.gov.
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The President's Volunteer Service Award is an initiative
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