2022 Volunteer Appreciation Day

National Volunteer Week is celebrated every year to recognize the contributions of our volunteers. Volunteers are the heart and soul of the USO. They play a crucial role in fulfilling our mission of keeping Service Members connected to home, family, and country during their service. Through our amazing volunteers, we are able to build a welcoming environment within our centers and provide the best programming on the island.

We held our celebration this year on April 23, 2022, at Rainbow Bay A-Frame Pavilion along scenic Pearl Harbor. The celebration was attended by more than 30 volunteers and staff members. Hawaiian-style dishes were served as the fellow volunteers enjoyed a beautiful view of the bay and warm, friendly conversation. One of the highlights of the event was the presentation of the Presidential Volunteer Service Award (PVSA). The President’s Volunteer Service Award was established to recognize the most outstanding volunteers and to acknowledge their impact on the community. It is given to volunteers who have volunteered at least 100 hours in the previous year. President George W. Bush introduced the Presidential Volunteer Service Award during his State of the Union address in 2002. There are four award levels (Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Lifetime Achievement), and hours required vary by the recipients’ age range for Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels. Ms. Edna Nazareno, Ms. Kathryn Arizo, Mr. Clyde Wong, and Mr. Temitope Oshinbanjo were among the volunteers who received Gold Awards during the ceremony. We awarded seventeen volunteers for the Silver and thirty-three for the Bronze Awards.

In 2021, as the world slowly returned to normal after the pandemic, our centers also adjusted accordingly. This year’s Presidential Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) recipients were instrumental in returning the USO to normalcy after the pandemic. We have resumed our usual programming and providing services to our Service Members and their dependents. During that time, USO Hawaii has been supported by these very dedicated volunteers, who not only dedicated their time and energy, but also shared their talents, skills, knowledge, and perspectives. Our volunteers come from a wide range of backgrounds, including active duty and retired Service Members, their Spouses, as well as a wide range of civilians who are dedicated to the USO mission and wish to provide assistance.

The 2021 Presidential Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) recipients

Gold Award:

• Clyde Wong
• Edna Nazareno
• Kathryn Arizo
• Temi Oshinbanjo

Silver Award:

• Avinash Verma
• Beiling Liu
• Grai'Shawn Landry
• Grant Schadle
• Jeff James
• John Johnson
• Keyla Thompson
• Leonard Duvall
• Lyle Apo
• Marisa Bowman
• Michael McCollum
• Quintin Bibbs
• Richard Cox
• Robin Pearce
• Shondalyn Atchison
• Mike Whittekiend
• Zachary Mendesbarry

Bronze Award:

• Alika Bui
• Amy Rauch
• Austin Felton
• Benjamin Hood
• Briana Kittles
• Chia Vue
• Colleen Bolmanski
• Craig Gallagher
• Daniel Parrett
• David Murray
• David Stevenson
• David Suhs
• DeRhon Finch
• Donna Hanson
• Hazel Holbrook
• Jerry Cerny
• Jesus Reyes
• Ji Young Moon
• Karen Cheek
• Lance Cheek
• Leticia Raya
• Lorraine Blackwell
• Melissa Pierre
• Michael Pescador
• Misty Wells
• Rachael Hall
• Rafika Barker
• Rochev Balcita
• Thomas Stevenson
• Vanessa Molitor
• Victor Fiqueroa
• Vivian Murray
• Yaresi Hernandez

Become a volunteer:

Be a Force Behind the Forces® today! Sign up and become a member of our team of over 30,000 volunteers who support military personnel and their families in your area.