2008 National Volunteer Week Fact Sheet
WHY VOLUNTEERING IS SO IMPORTANT

National Volunteer Week Fact Sheet

2008 National Volunteer Week (NVW) is from April 27 to May 3. This week is about inspiring, recognizing and encouraging people to seek ways to engage in their community. National Volunteer Week encourages individuals and communities to be at the center of social change discovering their power to make a difference.

It's also an opportunity to whet appetites for change through volunteerism and get people plugged into service throughout the remainder of the year by driving them to United Way's Volunteer Center or 2-1-1.

• Volunteer Week is April 27 through May 3. It is a national, annual celebration of volunteers and the valuable work they do for non-profits in their communities.
• Here in our area, we had more than 5,000 volunteers in 2007 donate 86,241 volunteer hours at a value of $18.77 per hour. That's a total contribution back to our community of a little more than $1.6 million in free labor for area nonprofits.
• United Way's Volunteer Center is overseeing an organized week of celebration events that encompasses our entire region.
• Sunday, April 27 at 2:15 p.m. was Volunteer Day at the Lookouts. Over 500 volunteers reserved tickets for the game.
• Then, on Thursday May 1 at 6 p.m., the Volunteer Center is hosting our annual volunteer awards banquet. This year's theme is Chattanooga Vols. The event will be held at the Brainerd Crossing and tickets are $13. Marcia Kling will be the Mistress of Ceremonies.
• Volunteer of the Year Awards will be given in the following six areas -- Youth, Community, Education, Environment, Health and Corporate.
• Volunteer Week is co-sponsored by United Way's Volunteer Center , DOVIA (Directors of Volunteers in Action) and the Corporate Volunteer Council (a group of corporate volunteers giving back to our community).

National Volunteer Week is an initiative of Points of Light & Hands On Network. The Week began in 1974 when President Richard Nixon signed an executive order establishing it as an annual celebration of volunteering. Every President since has signed a proclamation promoting National Volunteer Week. Additionally, governors, mayors and other elected officials make public statements and sign proclamations in support the Week.

National Volunteer Week is celebrated annually during the third full week of April, unless Easter or Passover occurs, then the Week is moved to the fourth week of April. During National Volunteer Week, thousands of volunteers around the country will be honored with local organizational awards for their community service.

Facts about volunteering

Volunteer numbers: About 60.8 million people volunteered through or for an organization at least once between September 2006 and September 2007, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported.
Increasing volunteers: About 44.6 percent of volunteers became involved with their main organization after being asked to volunteer, most often by someone in the organization. In other words, you can increase volunteerism by 44 percent just by asking people directly to volunteer.

Health benefits of volunteering: An analysis of data from the Longitudinal Study of Aging found that those individuals who volunteer have lower mortality rates than those who do not, even when controlling for physical health.

Community benefits: In fact, research has shown a relationship between communities with high levels of social capital - our social connectedness or social networks and the related norms of trust and reciprocity - and a community's quality of life as measured by such indicators as higher levels of parental engagement in schools, stronger local economies, less crime, and lower incidence of illnesses. Communities with high levels of neighbors working with and helping each other are more healthy and vibrant places to live and work.