Gary Maxworthy, center, stands on stage alongside other Americans recognized for their volunteerism at a recent gala.

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The recent Points of Light Institute gala honoring the elder President Bush’s commitment to national service touted some big names. All of the living former U.S. presidents were there. Music chart-toppers Carrie Underwood and Cee Lo Green rocked the house.

Shining just as brightly on stage: Purpose Prize winner Gary Maxworthy.

Points of Light invited him to the March 21 celebration at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., to demonstrate the power of volunteering. Maxworthy, who worked for 32 years in the food distribution business, won the Prize in 2007 for starting Farm to Family. The program connects farmers and California food banks to bring millions of pounds of surplus, fresh produce to the poor – fruits and vegetables that would ordinarily be thrown away.

Maxworthy developed his idea while an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer at the San Francisco Food Bank.

For the Kennedy Center tribute, Maxworthy told his story for a video that played for the audience, and he stood on stage alongside a small group of others committed to serving their communities.

“I do not believe anybody gives service in their encore career to be recognized, but when it happens it is very rewarding and satisfying,” says Maxworthy about participating in the Bush tribute, which aired nationally on NBC. “It was amazing to come on stage and get a standing ovation from 2,000 people and four ex-presidents and their families.”