Big Sunday Founder and Director Named Nonprofit Leader of the Year, Awarded Inaugural Governor and First Lady's Medal For Service

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) June 26, 2009

Big Sunday's Founder and Executive Director, David Levinson, was named Nonprofit Leader of the Year as part of the 2009 National Conference on Volunteering and Service. Levinson received the inaugural Governor and First Lady's Medal for Service, a prestigious award that honors California's top nonprofit leader whose "innovation in the field of volunteerism has had a tangible effect in their community, region, or in the state of California."

Big Sunday, http://www.bigsunday.org, the largest region-wide community service weekend in America, with over 50,000 participating volunteers was started more than a decade ago by Levinson, a Los Angeles-based full-time writer with just 300 volunteers, David and his team now lead the largest community service and community building event in the United States. Big Sunday's continues to strive to be the largest all-volunteer day in America, not in response to a man-made or natural disaster, but simply because Big Sunday wants to build community, all across the region. This year on Big Sunday weekend there were over 500 Big Sunday projects, at over 300 locations helping more than 250 organizations all across Southern California.

"This award is a great honor, especially coming from Governor Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, who have done so much to promote volunteerism," Levinson said. "I accept it on behalf of the thousands and thousands of people who make Big Sunday happen year after year."

The prestigious California Medals for Service were also given to Thomas Zimmerman, who was named Volunteer of the Year for his work creating an after school science enrichment program for low-income students. Pacific Gas and Electric Company also received the award for Business Volunteer Program of the Year in honor of its employee volunteer program.

"We received more than 100 nominations for the 2009 inaugural awards filled with amazing stories about volunteers and service projects that are changing neighborhoods and lives throughout the state," said California's Secretary of Service and Volunteering Karen Baker. "Today's recipients rose to the top of the outstanding nominations as the embodiment of the service movement. They are an inspiration to us all on what can be achieved through determination and commitment."

About Big Sunday
Big Sunday is the largest region-wide community service and community building weekend event in the United States. Founded in Los Angeles 11 years ago by David Levinson, a Hollywood-based full-time writer, with just 300 volunteers, Big Sunday now stretches from Santa Barbara to San Diego counties, to the Inland Empire, and engaged over 50,000 volunteers over one weekend in 2009, its 11th year. Big Sunday's motto is: Everyone Helps, and Everyone Wins. Big Sunday is driven by the belief that anyone, regardless of how rich or poor, how old or young, your race, religion, gender or ethnicity, can help someone else. Each year, Big Sunday builds on its goal of being the largest all-volunteer weekend in America, not in response to a man-made or natural disaster, but simply because Big Sunday wants to build community, when volunteers of every age and from every walk of life -- work together to help others. Big Sunday is entirely non-denominational, apolitical and free, and despite its massive size and scope, it is a non-profit organization whose projects are run predominantly by volunteers. Everything about Big Sunday is free - volunteers are asked to donate just their time and talent. The Big Sunday projects, including necessary supplies and services, are funded by private and corporate cash grants and in-kind donations. Although Big Sunday is held over one weekend, Big Sunday is often the catalyst for good works in several communities that continue throughout the year. In addition, Big Sunday facilitates scores of Holiday Projects between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. To volunteer, or to help in other ways, please visit http://www.bigsunday.org.

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