In celebration of Good Deeds Day, the Long Island Volunteer Center (LIVC) hosted a President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) ceremony at the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island in Garden City on April 6, 2025 from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Twenty-six students, ages 9 to 17, received Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards for their volunteer efforts that totaled 4,365 hours at 43 nonprofit and community-based organizations. Leading by example, these students used their time and talents to help build community, advance the human condition, and expand the reach and impact of the nonprofits and community organizations they served.
The President’s Volunteer Service Award is the most prestigious volunteer award associated with the White House. The students earned their awards because they donated the required number of hours to meet the award levels. Each received a pin or medallion, an engraved certificate and a congratulatory letter from 2024 U.S. President Joseph Biden. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine also provided certificates of recognition.
Awards were presented to:
- Cyrus Andaz, East Williston UFSD/Gold/Teens
- Becky Chen, Syosset High School, Silver/Young Adults
- Irene Chen, Syosset High School, Gold/Young Adults
- Seungmin Cheon, Jericho HS, Gold/Teens
- Neha Golia, Great Hollow Middle School, Bronze/Teens
- Mihir Goyal, Garden City High School, Gold/Teens
- Clare Maureen Griffin, St. Anthony’s High School, Gold/Teens
- Elizabeth Hsiao, Roslyn High School, Gold/Young Adults
- Ethan Hsiao, Roslyn High School, Gold/Teens
- William Jackson, Chaminade High School, Gold/Young Adults
- Amanat Deviki Jain, Garden City High School, Gold/Teens
- Armaan Chandragupta Jain, Garden City Stewart School, Gold/Kids
- Mannat Vikramaditya Jain, Garden City High School, Gold/Young Adults
- Krish Kripalani, The Wheatley School, Gold/Teens
- Marc A. Lindemann, Miller Place High School, Silver/Teens
- Benjamin P. Mayerhofer, Chaminade High School, Gold/Young Adults
- Olivia R. Mayerhofer, South Side High School, Gold/Young Adults
- Lyla Murphy, South Side High School, Silver/Teens
- Morenike Olukoya, North Babylon High School, Gold/Teens
- Sarah Persaud, Lindenhurst High School, Gold/Teens
- Sophia Persaud, Lindenhurst William Rall Elementary, Gold/Teens
- Anneliese Picchioni, South Side High School, Gold/Teens
- Molly Reardon, South Side High School, Gold/Young Adults
- Arav Shri Shelat, Jericho High School, Gold/Teens
- Samantha Weigand, Holy Trinity High School, Gold/Teens
- Allison Zhou, John Fitzgerald Kennedy High School, Bronze/Teens
The Ceremony opened with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Diana O’Neill, LIVC Executive Director, who also provided welcoming remarks. As certifying officer for PVSA, LIVC Board Chair Patricia Force, presented the awards. Darius Mason, a freshman at Adelphi University and recent FCAP (First-Year Community Action Program) member gave inspiring closing remarks. LIVC management team members Meg Callinan, Pat Force, Pat Moynihan, Diana O'Neill and Teri Resca helped plan and organize the event. LIVC Advisory Board members Caileigh McDonough, DJ McDonough, and Cecilia Renz helped with logistics assisted by Linda Eastman of NOSH Delivers!, Meg Norris of Garden City News and Pete O’Neill of the LIVC.
Good Deeds Day is a global celebration that unites people from more than 100 countries to do good deeds for the benefit of others and the planet. Each year, hundreds of thousands put into practice the simple idea that every single person can do something good, be it large or small, to improve the lives of others and positively change the world. Good Deeds Day is the perfect opportunity to celebrate Global Volunteer Month in April.