Points of Light Celebrates 8,000^th Daily Point of Light Award Recipient

Points of Light honors Jacob Chow, a California teen and Guinness World Record holder, with the 8,000^th Daily Point of Light Award. The award, established in 1989 by President George H.W. Bush, celebrates the power of individuals to create change and improve communities. This significant milestone coincides with the celebration of Points of Light’s 35^th anniversary, highlighting the legacy and impactful work the organization continues by recognizing individuals for incredible volunteer efforts and advancing volunteering in the U.S. and around the world.

Jacob has dedicated his life to helping others. As a member of the Youth Philanthropy Council (YPC), California’s largest youth-run nonprofit, Jacob quickly rose to become the Los Angeles chapter leader. He and his team of ten students work to provide essential items to those in need. Leveraging his connections in the shoe industry, Jacob led a record-breaking shoe drive that raised more than $1.1 million worth of footwear, providing nearly 22,000 pairs of shoes to more than 20,000 people. The remarkable effort earned Jacob and YPC a Guinness World Record for donating the most shoes in 24 hours.

In the aftermath of the Eaton fires in Los Angeles, Jacob mobilized quickly, collecting shoes, cribs, clothing and other essentials for displaced residents. His efforts resulted in the collection of 6,000 pairs of shoes. Currently, Jacob leads the Pasadena Relief Boutique, an initiative providing free footwear and clothing to families recovering from the fires.

“Jacob’s dedication, quick thinking and ability to coordinate within his community to meet local needs, exemplifies the spirit of the Daily Point of Light Award,” said Jennifer Sirangelo, president and CEO of Points of Light. “His efforts demonstrate the difference one individual can make and the powerful impact of community service.”

Jacob has dedicated his life to helping others, growing up in a family that values service and volunteering.

“Seeing families and individuals happy and so thankful is the most rewarding part of the work I do to support my community,” said Jacob. “The smiles on the faces of the families we’ve helped, even if it’s just one pair of shoes, reminds me how thankful I am to be able to give back and help my community.”

To learn more about the Daily Point of Light Award and nominate an individual supporting causes they care about, visit pointsoflight.org/daily-point-of-light.

ABOUT POINTS OF LIGHT

Points of Light is a nonpartisan, global nonprofit organization that inspires, equips, and mobilizes millions of people to take action that changes the world through volunteering and civic engagement. Through work with nonprofits, companies and social impact leaders, the organization galvanizes volunteers to meet critical needs for healthier and more equitable communities. As the world’s largest organization dedicated to increasing volunteer service, Points of Light engages more than 3.8 million volunteers across 32 countries. For more information, visit www.pointsoflight.org.

ABOUT THE DAILY POINT OF LIGHT AWARD

For 35 years, Points of Light has been honoring individuals five days a week with its Daily Point of Light Award. This award honors individuals and groups creating meaningful change to meet community needs; efforts which often lead to long-term solutions and impact social problems in their local communities.

President George H.W. Bush was the first president in American history to institute a daily presidential recognition program from the White House, conferring 1,020 Daily Point of Light Awards on citizens and organizations making a big difference in other people’s lives and solving community problems. Points of Light continues the recognition each weekday and now have 8,000 honorees to date.