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(Lincoln, NE) Gov. Dave Heineman and First Lady Sally Ganem applauded Nebraskans for their commitment to community service. A national survey released today ranked Nebraska second in the nation for volunteerism rates.
“In a state where we believe in the power of personal responsibility, it’s great to see that Nebraskans recognize volunteerism as a part of civic responsibility,” Gov. Heineman said. “This is evidence that volunteer recruitment efforts have been successful in our state, and I want to commend all those who’ve taken time to contribute to their communities for the tremendous impact they’ve made.”
More than 42 percent of all Nebraskans volunteer, according to the report released by the Corporation for National and Community Service. The study analyzed data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau, and is the first attempt to define volunteering habits and patterns by state and region.
In 2005, the efforts of 568,800 volunteers totaled more than 65.3 million hours of community service. Only Utah residents volunteered at higher rates, with 46.5 percent of the population. Nebraska was also recognized as a leader for volunteerism among seniors and young adults.
The First Lady serves as the honorary chairwoman of the Nebraska Volunteer Service Commission (NVSC), the state organization that provides those interested in volunteering with resources to get involved in their communities.
First Lady Ganem said, “Nebraskans are exceptionally giving and caring people. The concern and compassion we show for one another is a true strength of our state and plays a major role in improving the quality of life here in Nebraska.”
Popular areas of volunteerism in Nebraska included providing transportation for individuals in need, food collection and distribution, participation in fundraising efforts, in addition to tutoring, mentoring and coaching.
NVSC Commissioner Barry Kriha said, “Whether through faith-based organizations, civic groups or other nonprofit agencies, Nebraska’s strong national showing should be a source of pride for our state.”
David Eisner, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, said, “We believe that community service is an effective means of meeting vital needs in communities across America. This report is a tool to help states and communities increase volunteering and build the infrastructure of nonprofits and communities to respond to community challenges through citizen service.”
More information about service opportunities in the state is available on the NVSC Web site, http://www.nvsc.ne.gov. The complete “Volunteering in America” report featuring a state-by-state profile is available online at http://www.nationalservice.gov.
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