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Why Volunteering Matters...

There are more than 360 Volunteer Centers in the United States, 
serving over 100,000 nonprofit organizations.  
Through this, more than 2.5 million people are active in 
more than one million opportunities!

Approximately 65.4 million Americans volunteered through or for an organization at least once between September 2004 and September 2005.
(New Perspectives on Volunteerism)

73% of America's 60 million young people believe they can make a difference in their communities.
(Do Something Young People's Involvement Survey /Princeton Survey Research, 1998)

Youth who volunteer just one hour a week are 50% less likely to abuse drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, or engage in destructive behavior.
(Search Institute, 1995)

Youth who volunteer are more likely to do well in school, graduate, vote, and be philanthropic.
(UCLA/Higher Education Research Institute, 1991)

Three-quarters of volunteers (76%) reported gaining interpersonal skills such as understanding people better, motivating others, and dealing with difficult situations.
(National Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating)

Two-thirds of volunteers (66%) said they developed communication skills in public speaking, writing, conducting meetings, and public relations.
(NSGVP)

Sixty-four percent reported an increase in their knowledge about such issues as health, women, politics, criminal justice, or the environment.
(NSGVP)