Some think of the Golden Rule Award as the community service equivalent to the Pulitzer or Academy Award. Named after James Cash Penney's first store (Golden Rule Store, opened in 1902), the Award program began in 1982. A partnership with The Points of Light Foundation in 1987 allowed the program to grow in scope. Currently, over 220 local affiliates in the US and Puerto Rico participate.
The Golden Rule Award recognizes that the good accomplished by nonprofit organizations would not be possible without caring volunteers. The program rewards individual volunteer efforts through recognition, and helps set an example to other community members. It also helps the nonprofit organization through monetary donations that are so critical in assuring an altruistic program's continuation.
There are four Award categories:
- Adult: an individual 18 or older;
- Youth: an individual younger than 18;
- Group: two or more individuals;
- Education: an individual or group that volunteers for a school (up to the 12th grade).
Local winners are chosen by a panel of community leaders and are given a crystal award and a $1,000 contribution to their nonprofit organization (youth are given a $500 scholarship for use at a post-secondary school and a $500 contribution). Additionally, finalists are awarded a certificate and $250 contribution prize.
Local winners are nominated for the National Golden Rule Award, held every September at the JCPenney Home Office in Plano, TX. The national winners, selected in each category by leaders of national nonprofit organizations, receive a crystal award and $10,000 contribution to their nonprofit (youth are awarded a $5,000 scholarship and $5,000 contribution.)
What does it take to be a winner? The 1997 National Youth Award Recipient was 17 year old Marieo Henry (who went on to be a Judge for the 1998 Awards). For three years he volunteered over 60 hours a week at the Detroit Westside Cultural and Athletic Club in a neighborhood where substance abuse is a problem in 70% of homes. He mentored and tutored youth, coached softball, and helped with the local "Adopt-A-Grandparent" program. While this would sound impressive to anyone, Marieo said that he was surprised to receive the award, because there was so much that still needed to be done in his community. "I'm just an ordinary person...," claimed Marieo, "But one thing that makes me a little different is that I care about my community and I try to do anything that I can do to help out..."
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