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United Way launches LIVE UNITED Volunteer Corps
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Bryan, Ohio - April 22, 2010 -
Volunteering
in Williams County is now easier than ever before.
As
National Volunteer Week comes to an end, the United Way has officially launched
its LIVE UNITED Volunteer Corps program. The purpose of the program is to
connect local nonprofit organizations that need volunteers with individuals in
Williams County who are looking for volunteer opportunities.
"This
is an exciting time for volunteerism," said Chris Malanga, Chief Executive
Officer. "Volunteering connects people to hope and offers a chance to build a
stronger community. It usually starts with a single act of kindness, but
it often leads to a lifetime of enriching experiences." Malanga added, "The LIVE UNITED Volunteer Corps will seek people who want to volunteer and offer them
meaningful opportunities to serve."
The
United Way of Williams County has taken on the responsibility for operating and promoting the program in order to increase volunteerism throughout the county. The primary means of facilitating the connection between prospective volunteers
and the needs of local nonprofit organizations is an interactive website www.volunteerwilliams.org that
benefits both.
The
website is built upon technology from United Way Worldwide called Volunteer
Solutions. Because of the size of
our local United Way, there is no cost to use the software, which normally
costs thousands of dollars for larger organizations.
"The
United Way is committed to reaching out to potential volunteers and the
nonprofit community to bring the two together," Malanga said. "We will support
this work with our staff and the latest technology, yet spend very few
monetary resources."
To
help launch the new LIVE UNITED Volunteer Corps and promote volunteerism, the United
Way is being assisted by Jennifer Creighton, an AmeriCorps VISTA Member based
at Defiance College's McMaster School for Advancing Humanity. Creighton spends two days per week in
Williams County, working on the project.
"I'm
currently contacting local nonprofit organizations, schools, churches and
others to introduce them to the new software," said Creighton. "I want to show them how user-friendly
it is, and how they can promote their opportunities and connect with potential
volunteers."
Currently,
there are 12 local organizations listed in the database and Creigton is working
to expand that significantly. Once
an organization is registered, either by Creighton or if they do it themselves,
the software works without interaction from United Way. Organizations simply post and maintain
their opportunities from a simple interface. Then, potential volunteers can search by agency, location,
type of volunteer opportunity, skill set, and other criteria.
A team of volunteers within
the United Way is working to market the program both to agencies and potential
volunteers. A weekly e-newsletter
of volunteer opportunities will be sent beginning in the summer.
Once
her work in Williams County is complete, Creighton will replicate the program
in Defiance and Fulton Counties, working with the United Ways there.
The
LIVE UNITED Volunteer Corps has the potential to significantly increase
volunteerism in Williams County by enabling local nonprofit organizations to
match-up their needs with the skills and availability of volunteers who
register on the website. Individuals seeking volunteer opportunities and
local nonprofit organizations needing volunteers are encouraged to visit www.volunteerwilliams.org or call
Creigton at 419-636-8603 to learn more.
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About United Way
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United Way has been county-wide since 1994. Residents of Bryan, Edgerton, Edon, Holiday City, Montpelier, Pioneer, Stryker and West Unity are being encouraged to LIVE UNITED.
LIVE UNITED means being part of the change. It takes everyone in the
community working together to create a brighter future. Together we can accomplish more than any single group can on its own.
Give. Advocate. Volunteer. LIVE UNITED.
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Website Info
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www.volunteerwilliams.org
From this address, non-profit agencies can post volunteer opportunities, and potential volunteers can search out opportunities that might interest them.
It truly is a one-stop shop for volunteerism in Williams County.
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Did you know?
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The estimated dollar
value of volunteer time for 2009 was $20.85 per hour, according to the Independent Sector.
The estimate helps quantify the enormous
value volunteers provide.
According to the Corporation
for National and Community Service, about 61.8 million Americans,
or 26.4 percent of the adult population, gave 8 billion hours of
volunteer service worth $162 billion in 2008.
Read more
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Press Contacts:
| Chris Malanga
Chief Executive Officer
United Way of Williams County
419-636-8603
419-819-0089 cell
cmalanga@unitedwaywc.org
Jennifer Creighton
AmeriCorps VISTA Member
United Way of Williams County
419-636-8603
uwwc.vc.vista@gmail.com
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