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How To Create A ‘Point of Light’ Tribute

Feb 1, 2011 By Points of Light

Who is a Point of Light?

President George H.W. Bush is, of course, a Point of Light.  If President Bush’s unique commitment to service and voluntary action has inspired you, we encourage you to post a tribute to him.

A Point of Light is an inspiring individual, organization or company that is dedicated to voluntary action.

We want you to be creative.  While voluntary action includes Americans who donate their time to overcoming challenges in their communities, it also includes those who have donated their resources and used their voices to make a difference.  All of these people are Points of Light.

Instructions for Filming a Tribute

  • Introduce yourself with your name, organization affiliation if applicable and where you live.
  • Clearly state that you want to nominate/honor a Point of Light.
  • Identify the person being honored by his or her name, organization affiliation if applicable and where they live.
  • Talk about the impact your Point of Light has had in your community.
  • Be very specific and think of this like you’re telling a story.  If your Point of Light has been involved in the community or volunteerism for a long time discuss her ongoing commitment, if there is a specifically powerful example of how she has had an impact, relate that story.

  • Avoid wearing white, red, all black and busy patterns.
  • Your video should be around 1 minute in length.

Instructions for Writing a Tribute

  • Include your name, organization affiliation if applicable and where you live.
  • Clearly state that you want to nominate/honor a Point of Light.
  • Identify the person being honored by his or her name, organization affiliation if applicable and where they live.
  • Talk about the impact your Point of Light has had in your community.
  • Be very specific and think of this like you’re telling a story.  If your Point of Light has been involved in the community or volunteerism for a long time discuss her ongoing commitment, if there is a specifically powerful example of how she has had an impact, relate that story.
  • If possible, please include a photo of the individual you are honoring.

Examples of Video Tributes

Examples of Photo and Written Tributes

SAMPLE PHOTO TRIBUTE

Dee Dee Myers’ tribute to the St. Bernard Project

Hi my name is Dee Dee Myers, and my “Points of Light” are Zack Rosenburg and Liz McCartney of the St. Bernard Project in New Orleans.  Zack, a lawyer, and Liz, a teacher, decided to go down to New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.  They thought they’d spend a month there helping residents rebuild their homes, but what they found when they got there it totally changed their lives.

As they began talking with residents in those first weeks, they realized that people wanted to rebuild more than just their homes. They wanted to rebuild their communities and their entire lives. So Zack and Liz decided to move to New Orleans full-time and start an organization, the St. Bernard Project, which would help people do just that, to rebuild.

So working together, these residents and the St. Bernard Project began trying to overcome all of the obstacles that still face residents more than five years later.  Obstacles like contractor fraud, high cost, disability and all kinds of other really tough barriers, and they’ve been very successful.  They’ve already rebuilt nearly 350 homes and they have 50 more in construction. Thanks to Zack and Liz hundreds of New Orleans families now have a more hopeful future.  That’s why Zack Rosenburg and Liz McCartney are my “Points of Light.”

SAMPLE WRITTEN TRIBUTE

Remarks by President Obama at Points of Light Institute’s 20th Anniversary

And that, ultimately, is the idea at the heart of President Bush’s vision: that each of us has a role to play, and all of us have something to contribute. He didn’t call for one blinding light shining from Washington — he didn’t just call for a few bright lights from the biggest nonprofits; but he called for “a vast galaxy of people and institutions working together to solve problems in their own backyard.

And today, 20 years later, think for a minute about the impact that he’s had. Think of the thousands of people and organizations who’ve been named Points of Light –and the countless others he inspired to do their part. Think of all the people they touched and the lives they changed –- and all of those who were helped who went on to help others. That’s the extraordinary ripple effect that one life, lived humbly, with love for one’s country, and in service to one’s fellow citizens, can have. May we each strive to make that kind of difference with our own lives.

Thank you, President Bush.

Points of Light

We are champions of civic engagement with a mission to inspire, equip and mobilize people to take action that changes the world.