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Nevada Volunteers Works to Improve Volunteer Rate in Nevada
Nevadans Who Volunteer Dedicate More Hours Than National Average
June 22, 2010 |
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National Study Finds Nevada Rate Steady but Needing Improvement
Nevada Volunteers, the state commission on national and community service, is working to inspire more Nevadans to volunteer in 2010. Despite the severe effects of the recession in the state, Nevada’s volunteering rate has remained relatively stable for the past two years. According to a survey by the Corporation for National and Community Service, in 2009 approximately 416,000 Nevadans volunteered, or 20.6%*. These volunteers contributed 62.3 million hours of service. “Nevada’s volunteer rate has increased since the baseline percentage of 16.5% was established in 1989,” said Shawn Lecker-Pomaville, CEO of Nevada Volunteers. “Together with our higher amount of hours per volunteer, 38.2% compared to the national average of 34.2%, this is a sign of improvement in the sector. With the help of national service and our partner organizations, Nevada Volunteers is strengthening the volunteer infrastructure in Nevada.” There is still work for Nevada to do, though, because the state is ranked 50th among all the states and Washington D.C.
Nevada Volunteers launched a new website, www.nevadavolunteers.org, in 2009, which allows people across Nevada to search for volunteer opportunities posted by nonprofits in their area. Nonprofits post their volunteer needs at no cost, and the public can then browse through the list online for opportunities that might interest them. This summer, the website will be updated to make the search tool even more convenient.
In 2009, 229 AmeriCorps members, funded with grants awarded by Nevada Volunteers, recruited and managed 5,251 volunteers throughout Nevada. These volunteers donated more than 69,883 hours of community service valued at $1,415,130.70. In 2010, Nevada AmeriCorps programs have been expanded to fund 341 members across the state, which will increase this volunteer recruitment effort.
The Nevada Volunteers’ Higher-Education Initiative has been working to create a stronger bridge between campuses and the nonprofit community. In the fall of 2009, Nevada Volunteers set up student work groups on Nevada campuses to inspire more students to serve. Work group participants surveyed over 800 of their peers to gauge the interest, as well as the challenges, in volunteering for students. This year, work will continue on campus to integrate ideas generated from the survey and the work group students into the campuses.
Through these efforts, plus their nonprofit outreach, training workshops, and public presentations, Nevada Volunteers will continue to make it easier for Nevadans to find quality experiences through which to serve their communities.
*To see the complete set of data from the Volunteering in America study, go to www.volunteeringinamerica.gov/NV. Please note: some data is found through the customize button.
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