This Friday, I will proudly recognize the 2007 Volunteer Service Awards recipients. The Governor's Commission on Service and Volunteerism established these awards in 2002 to honor Arizonans who give their time and talents back to their communities. Winners like Jason Sanchez of Prescott, who helped start a youth-run business that recycles used computers; or the STAR School in Flagstaff, whose students started an Elder Help Project to reunite generations and establish mentoring relationships with senior citizens, are making a difference throughout our state.
The number of volunteers in Arizona is growing. According to a national report, Arizonans contribute 158.6 million hours of volunteer service each year valued at over $2.8 billion. However, despite those staggering figures, hundreds of volunteer opportunities go unfilled each month. Below are just some of the ways you can make a difference in your community:
- Help ensure a brighter future for Arizona's youth by becoming involved with mentoring and tutoring. Volunteer as an adult leader for scouts, 4-H, youth advisory councils or other youth-serving organizations.
- Spend time with one of the many wonderful Senior Corps programs, including Foster Grandparents, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) and Senior Companions.
- Join AmeriCorps, a network of National Service programs that engages more than 300 Arizonans each year in intensive service to meet critical needs in education, public safety, homeland security, health, and the environment.
- Make a difference at the local level - take part in you city council, school board, and legislative district.
- If you are a state employee, take advantage of my mentoring initiative, which allows employees up to one hour of flex time per week to mentor school aged youth.
- Help make Arizona a safer place by volunteering for a local Citizen Corp Council and serve as a police volunteer, fire volunteer, medical corps volunteer and more.
- Identify a critical need in your community and find a way to work with a community-based organization, faith-based organization or even your friends and family members to address that need.
The 16 Volunteer Service Awards recipients exemplify Arizona's best. We're grateful for these volunteers and the thousands of others like them who are working together to develop innovative solutions to the issues our communities face.
If every person in Arizona volunteered just one hour a week, imagine what we could do.
To find more information about opportunities in your neighborhood, contact Bob Shogren, executive director of the Governor's Commission on Service & Volunteerism at bshogren@az.gov.
As always, if you have any questions or comments, please contact my office at
800-253-0883 and ask to speak to Constituent Services.
