For a list of the various volunteer awards in Canada, see the Volunteer Canada Web site. 

Corporate Engagement Award of Excellence
Recognizes companies with effective volunteer programs that are linked to their business objectives. Full description on the Points of Light site at http://www.pointsoflight.org/recognition/corpaward.

Be Big! in Your Community Contest
http://www.scholastic.com/cliffordbebig/contest/
Sponsored by Scolastic Magazine, American Family Insurance, and HandsOn Network and featuring Clifford, the big red dog, this contest for the best community action idea awards a $25,000 grant to the first place winner and gives nineteen (19) second place honorees a $2,500 community grant.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Huggable Heroes Award Program
Do you know a young leader between the ages of 7 and 18 years old, doing extraordinary things in his/her community or around the world to better the lives of others? Enter these young leaders in the annual search for Build-A-Bear Workshop® Huggable Heroes®.  Twelve Huggable Heroes will be selected and each will be awarded with a $7,500 educational scholarship and $2,500 in the form of a donation to the 501 (c)(3) charity of his/her choice. Entry forms are available at all North American Build-A-Bear Workshop stores and online at www.buildabear.com/huggableheroes. 

The Congressional Award
The U.S. Congress has a medal for young people ages 14 to 23. To earn the Congressional Award, young people set and achieve goals for volunteer public service, personal development, physical fitness and an expedition. To learn more, visit http://www.congressionalaward.org

Daily Points of Light Award
Every day of the year, an individual or local group is recognized by the President of the United States for outstanding community service/volunteering. Nominations can be submitted by anyone. Visit http://www.pointsoflight.org/recognition/dpol
for more information and to learn how to make a nomination.

Do Something Award
http://www.dosomething.org/programs/awards
Since 1996, DoSomething.org has honored the nation’s best young world-changers, 25 and under. Do Something Award nominees and winners represent the pivotal "do-ers" in their field, cause, or issue. The five nominees will be rewarded with a community grant, participation in a live VH1 TV show, media coverage and continued support from DoSomething.org. The grand prize winner will receive $100,000 for their cause.

Echoing Green Fellowship
http://www.echoinggreen.org/fellowship
Each year, Echoing Green awards 20 two-year fellowships to entrepreneurs creating new social change organizations. Fellows receive up to $90,000 in seed funding and technical support to turn their innovative ideas into sustainable organizations.

Giraffe Heroes

http://www.giraffe.org/
The Giraffe Project issues commendations to those who have taken "a significant risk for the common good"— stuck out their necks like a giraffe.  See their well-articulated criteria at:
http://www.giraffe.org/nominate-giraffes/nominate-giraffes/

Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes
http://www.barronprize.org
The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes honors young people ages 8 to 18 who have made a significant positive difference to people and our planet. Each year, ten national winners each receive $2,500 to support their service work or higher education. Nomination deadline is April 30. For more information and to nominate, visit www.barronprize.org

National Volunteer Week Awards
http://www.justgood.tv/nvw/?page_id=28
A variety of programs announcing recipients during National Volunteer Week, including the University of Phoenix Volunteer Leader Awards.

Nestlé Very Best In Youth
http://verybestinyouth.nestleusa.com/public/default.aspx
Award sponsored by Nestlé and Reading is Fundamental (RIF) honors 30 young people who have made reading a priority and in the process have made tangible contributions to the quality of life in their communities.

President's Volunteer Service Award

http://www.presidentialserviceawards.gov/tg/aio/index3.cfm
Offers "Certifying Organizations" the ability to recognize their own volunteers with the President's Volunteer Service Award (at any time during the year), providing the volunteers keep a record of their activities and contributed hours.  See Web site for full details.

Prudential Spirit of Community Awards
Seek nominations of young volunteers, in grades 7-12, who have made the greatest commitment and impact over the past year. National honorees will receive $5,000, gold medallions and crystal trophies for their schools. Application forms available in middle and high schools, Girl Scout councils and county 4-H offices throughout the U.S. They also may be obtained by visiting: http://www.prudential.com/community/spirit or by calling 1-877-525-8491.

Women of Worth
http://www.womenofworth.com
Nominate an American woman "whose volunteer work is making a beautiful difference."  L'Oréal Paris will donate $2,500 in each honoree's name to a charitable organization of her choice, and a $2,500 donation in her name to The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (L'Oréal Paris' primary philanthropy).  Annual contest with deadline in May.  Can self-nominate.  See details at http://www.womenofworth.com/nominations/home.aspx.

Yoshiyama Award
http://www.hitachifoundation.org/yoshiyama/
A program of the Hitachi Foundation, this award annually honors up to twelve high school seniors from around the country for their community-service activities. The award is accompanied by an unrestricted gift of $5,000, dispensed over two years. Award selection is based on the significance and extent of the nominee's service to the community, and not on grade point averages, SAT scores, or school club memberships. Nominees need not be college bound. Students must be nominated for the award.  Check Web site for details (deadline is often April 1).

Youth Service America Awards and Grants Programs
http://www.ysa.org/awards
YSA co-sponsors a number of annual awards for young people excelling in service-learning projects, including: Harris Wofford Award and the YSA Service Stars , plus grants to seed new projects.