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Idaho ranks 2nd in the nation for volunteerism |
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December 19, 2014 |
Over 36 percent of Idahoans volunteered during
2013, the second highest percentage among the
states, according to the latest report on
volunteerism from the Corporation for National
and Community Service and the National
Conference on Citizenship.
The annual “Volunteering and Civic Life in
America” report found that more than 421,000
Idaho volunteers performed 62.3 million hours of
service valued at over $1.4 billion. The rate is
the percentage of people 16 or older who
performed unpaid volunteer activities through or
for an organization, based on U.S. Census Bureau
data.
“Volunteering in Idaho remains an important part
of the fabric of our great state and a key
component of civic life, enriching our
communities and those who serve,” Serve Idaho
Program Manager Renee Bade said. Idaho rose from
third to second in its national ranking
In addition to individual volunteerism, the
Corporation for National and Community Service
has committed more than $5.4 million to support
Idaho communities through national service
initiatives. Through public-private partnership,
this federal investment will leverage an
additional $2 million in other resources to
strengthen community impact, build local support
and increase return on tax dollars. Primarily
through Serve Idaho, over 300 people in the
AmeriCorps program will provide services to meet
education, environmental, health, economic, and
other pressing needs in communities across
Idaho.
Serve Idaho, the Governor’s Commission on
Service and Volunteerism, is a division of the
Idaho Department of Labor. The commission
administers Idaho's AmeriCorps programs, Idaho’s
Promise, the Alliance for Youth and the
Governor’s Brightest Star Awards and hosts the
annual Serve Idaho Conference on Service and
Volunteerism. The commission developed the state
model for Emergent Volunteer Reception Centers
established during disasters for the Bureau of
Homeland Security. Serve Idaho is funded in part
by the Corporation for National and Community
Service and the Idaho Department of Labor.
More information about Serve Idaho and
AmeriCorps service opportunities is at
www.serveidaho.gov . |
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