Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Bill Vaughan. Read his story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
In 2022, UPS Capt. William “Bill” Vaughan was on a routine layover in Cologne, Germany, when he encountered thousands of Ukrainian families fleeing war. Among them were children arriving with little more than what they could carry. Witnessing their uncertainty and loss, Bill saw an immediate need and chose to act.
Drawing on the community he knew best, Bill turned to his UPS network and launched Operation BackPack4Kids, a volunteer-led effort focused on bringing comfort and practical support to children displaced by crisis. In just 30 days, he raised $100,000 and mobilized more than 400 UPS employees to pack and distribute backpacks filled with essentials and small comforts, including warm blankets, water bottles, hygiene kits and toys. What began as a response to families escaping the war in Ukraine has since grown into an ongoing effort serving children affected by war, natural disasters and humanitarian emergencies around the world. The result is practical care delivered with dignity, humanity and connection.
Bill’s service reflects the power of volunteering to move people from concern to action and to connect communities around a shared purpose. By pairing compassion with the relationships and resources already available to him, he created a way for hundreds of others to contribute, expanding the reach of one person’s decision to help. His work also demonstrates how volunteer leadership can build momentum: identifying a need, inviting others in and creating a structure that allows service to continue beyond a single moment.
In recognition of his sustained commitment to helping children and families in crisis, UPS named Bill the 2025 recipient of the Jim Casey Community Service Award, the company’s highest honor for volunteerism. Through Operation BackPack4Kids, Bill continues to show how purposeful service can turn empathy into tangible support and give others a meaningful way to make a difference.
Do you want to make a difference in your community like Bill? Find local volunteer opportunities.