Saturday, June 25, 2011

Party Like a Volunteer!

By: Melissa Gibler, special to the Statesman Journal
The week of April 10-16 has been designated National Volunteer Week and will provide an opportunity to spotlight volunteers and commemorate their valuable contributions to our communities.


President Richard Nixon established National Volunteer Week on April 20, 1974, with a proclamation that urged all Americans to “observe that week by seeking out an area in their community in which they can give to a needy individual or worthy cause by devoting a few hours, or more, to volunteer service.” Since Nixon’s declaration that the week be dedicated to those who give their time to charity, all the U.S. presidents have renewed the pledge, stamping the event with their own personal support of volunteering.

The Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center, a Washington, D.C. non-profit that sponsors National Volunteer Week, derived its name from the infamous phrase “the illumination of a thousand points of light,” which President George H.W. Bush said during his state of the union address in 1991 when he suggested that the way to renew America is to “find meaning and reward by serving some purpose higher than ourselves, a shining purpose…”

During National Volunteer Week, we encourage everyone to take a moment to recognize and thank the volunteers who help in our schools, churches, non-profits, and on an individual basis. The joy of volunteering is that anyone can do it; no special education, talent, or experience is required. Volunteers come in all shapes and sizes!

HandsOn of the Mid-Willamette Valley would like to recognize and thank local volunteers who completed 271,580 hours of service last year. An amazing accomplishment that translates to $5,024,230 in human capitol invested in non-profit organizations in the tri-county area.
In conjunction with National Volunteer week, HandsOn will host Party like a Volunteer on Wednesday, April 13, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Clockworks CafĂ© and Cultural Center. Volunteer projects will be set up to keep you busy and the Matthew Price Band will provide entertainment. Refreshments will be available for purchase and everyone is invited to join in the celebration!
No need to sign up; simply drop by and join the fun. Remember to bring your friends and family. Even if you are new to volunteering; what better place to start than at a party?

Melissa Gibler is the program director for HandsOn Mid-Willamette Valley—an initiative of the United Way. She can be reached at (877) 372-4141, or mgibler@unitedwaymwv.org

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