Carson City man named finalist for Governor's Points of Light Award

Carson City resident Gil Yanuck was named a finalist for the Governor's Points of Light Awards held in Las Vegas.

The Governor's Points of Light Award recognizes those people who have shown an ongoing volunteer commitment that improves the lives of others in the state.

It is the highest honor awarded by the Nevada Commission for National and Community Service; acknowledging the work of those who "go the extra mile" and who inspire others with their efforts.

The Award goes to Nevadans whose work focuses on achievement of outcomes, need in the community, innovation, mobilization of others and endurance of commitment.

Yanuck's record volunteer service in northern Nevada has been impressive. He has served as the northern Nevada lead for AARP's Tax Aide program since 1999, a free tax assistance service that helps more than 18,000 Nevadans get their taxes done each year.

His excellent volunteer tax work led the U.S. Treasurer to appoint Yanuck to be the Nevada representative on the National Taxpayer Advocacy Panel in 2004.

The consumer group reviews IRS policies and identifies ways to make the IRS a more customer-oriented government agency.

He has also been a volunteer supporting our state's wildlife conservation efforts since 1999, and has served on the Carson City Wildlife Advisory Board to Manage Wildlife since 2000.

The Carson City Mayor appointed him to the Governor's Sage Grouse Team in 2001; which worked with other organizations to develop state strategies to remove the sage grouse from the endangered species list.

And in 2002, Yanuck began work on a collaborative California and Nevada Local Area Planning Group, dedicated to mitigating the risks to existing local sage grouse populations in order to preserve the species.

Gil Yanuck's volunteer service to northern Nevada is extensive. He is already a Point of Light in Carson City.