Acts of Caring Award
The Acts of Caring honor community-based, government volunteer programs that provide a legacy for the future.

What is an Act of Caring?
An "act of caring" is a community service provided by a county-sponsored volunteer program that enhances or preserves the quality of life.

Who is Eligible to Participate?
Any county government that is a member of NACo with an active program that meets the following criteria is eligible to participate in the Acts of Caring Awards. A county program that won an Acts of Caring Award in the past three years is not eligible for an award in 2006.

Eligible programs must:

• Exist at least one calendar year priorto the application date
• Enlist community participation on a volunteer basis
• Include the participation of the county (officials and/or staff) in a significant and ongoing role
• Serve as a model program and be replicable, and
• Demonstrate measurable outcomes that benefit the community.
  

Acts of Caring Awards
Up to 18 programs will be recognized and deemed examples of outstanding Acts of Caring. Based on county size, as many as three programs will be recognized in each of six categories, including: Community Improvement; Criminal Justice/Emergency Management; Elderly Services;  Health/Social Services; Libraries; and Programs for Children & Youth.

The types of programs that can be included in Community Improvement are arts & culture, historic preservation, environmental programs, services to help animals, civic education, and recreation and parks.

The Legacy Award for Excellence and Innovation
The Legacy Award for Excellence and Innovation is awarded to the program that most fully embodies the spirit of volunteerism by addressing a unique need. This program sets itself apart by providing unparalleled service in its community.

The Youth Service Award
The Youth Service Award is presented to the program that best identifies a critical need in the youth community and addresses it, in part, by engaging young people in service.

Cash Awards
Cash awards will be presented to the volunteer programs that receive the Youth Service Award and the Legacy Award for Excellence and Innovation. The Youth Service Award winner will receive $1,000; the Legacy Award winner will receive $1,500.

Population Categories
Awards may be presented in each of three population categories to ensure that large and small communities and urban and rural areas all receive the recognition they deserve.

Category	Population
1	500,000 and above
2	100,000 - 500,000
3	100,000 and below

Contact Tom Goodman, NACo Public Affairs Director, (202) 942-4222.