More than 60 employees from the AT&T offices in Redmond are being honored for volunteering their time year-round to help build strong, connected and thriving communities. As part of National Volunteerism Week, April 12-18, the volunteers received the prestigious President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA).

The PVSA gives U.S. Presidential recognition to individuals who have demonstrated a sustained commitment to volunteer service each year. The achievement, awarded to more than 4,500 AT&T employees nationwide, is a way to inspire others to contribute to their communities through volunteer service and to make volunteer service a central part of their lives.

Employees participated in activities ranging from mentoring students online in science and math, cleaning up local parks or traveling overseas to meet the needs of people in a country far away. Here in Redmond, employees have volunteered for organizations such as the AT&T Veterans — Washington Chapter, Operation Santa, Heartbeat — Serving Wounded Warriors, Toys for Tots, Do One Thing (DOT), Boy Scouts of America, Junior Achievement, Jobs for Washington Grads, Communities in Schools, Redmond North Little League, iCouldBe (online mentoring), YWCA, New Hope International Church and as a sports team photographer.

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.

”People matter — to each other, to our communities and to our company,” said AT&T Washington President Bob Bass. “This has been one of our core beliefs since AT&T was founded. We’re proud of our employees in Redmond for investing their time in our communities to make a difference. We believe our workforce, our business and the communities we serve are all stronger because of volunteerism.”