Bellevue resident Matthew LaTurner is being honored for volunteering his time year-round to help build strong, connected and thriving communities. As part of National Volunteerism Week, April 12-18, LaTurner received the prestigious President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA).
Matthew LaTurner, a Senior Principal Architect , is among 4,500 AT&T employees nationwide being named President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) winners. The PVSA gives U.S. Presidential recognition to individuals who have demonstrated a sustained commitment to volunteer service each year.
LaTurner, is a father of two boys and spends hundreds of hours each year volunteering for the Boy Scouts of America, the local Boys and Girls Club and the AT&T Aspire mentoring academy. A Scout Master , he organizes weekly activities for boys 14 to 16 years old.
Once a month his Boy Scout troop takes on challenges like hiking up 9,000 feet on Mt. Rainier and building snow caves. He mentors high school students and talks with them about careers in technology and AT&T. Finally, he is a dedicated basketball and soccer coach for his sons and their teammates.
“I volunteer because I want to be a positive role model for people,” said LaTurner. “I have been blessed all of my life with wonderful men who helped me become a good husband and father. I want to pass that along and make a difference in the lives of these young men.”
“We are proud to celebrate AT&T employees who volunteer their time, talents and passions to make a difference in their communities,” said Bob Bass, president, AT&T Washington. “I am inspired and encouraged by our President’s Volunteer Service Award winners for this year, and want to say thanks to Matthew Laturner for the service he provides to his community every day.”
More than 50,000 hours of personal time was given by AT&T employees and retirees in Washington to community outreach activities last year – worth more than $1.1 million based on a financial equivalent of annual industry standards from Independent Sector.
PVSA is an initiative of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and is administered by Points of Light. With a shared mission of inspiring more to answer the call to service, PVSA celebrates the impact we can all make in bettering our communities and our world. The award is available on an annual basis and is an honor that every American – from youth to seniors – can participate in and be recognized by our nation’s president for their dedication to volunteerism.
To be eligible to receive the award, AT&T submits a record of employees’ annual volunteer service hours to be verified and considered eligible for the award.