Miami-Dade residents recognized with President’s Service Award

Seventy AT&T South Florida employees received President’s Volunteer Service Awards for their commitment to community service during National Volunteer Week, April 10-16.

Ozzie Perez, one of 19 award recipients in Miami-Dade, earned the Gold PVSA for completing more than 500 hours of community service last year. Perez is one of three individuals given the Gold PVSA in Miami-Dade.

The Silver PVSA is awarded to those who have completed between 250-499 hours of service and the Bronze PVSA is awarded to those with 100-249 hours of service.

Perez dedicates a lot of his time to helping veterans and inspiring young boys to do service as well.

“I’m very honored to receive this award. Hopefully it highlights volunteerism and inspires people to volunteer more,” Perez said. “I’m a veteran myself and there’s a lot of veterans out there who need help.”

Perez serves as post commander for Veterans of Foreign War Post 10212. Under his leadership, the post has reached the highest honor possible, All-American, in 2014. He also volunteers with Boy Scouts Pack 127 and, with help from his post and the Boy Scouts, he planted 2,200 flags on veteran’s graves at the cemetery on Southwest 32nd Avenue and Eighth Street on Memorial Day.

A total of 4,500 AT&T employees received these awards this year. Award-winners receive a personalized certificate, an official pin, medallion or coin and a congratulatory letter from President Barack Obama.

This story was originally published April 19, 2016 at 9:12 AM with the headline "Miami-Dade residents recognized with President’s Service Award."