Montana Ranks "Top Ten" in Nation for Volunteerism

The Governor’s Office of Community Service (http://serve.mt.gov/) announced today that Montana ranks 9th in the nation for volunteerism, according to a Volunteering in America 2010 report just released by the Corporation for National and Community Service in partnership with the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

"We should all be proud of our state’s volunteer spirit," said Governor Brian Schweitzer. "I congratulate our volunteers who are often the unsung heroes, dedicated to upholding our state’s longstanding tradition of neighbor helping neighbor."

The data shows that in 2009, approximately 268,000 volunteers in Montana contributed 38.8 million hours of service, equaling a volunteer rate of 34.8%. The top volunteer areas include; religious, educational, social services, civic, sports/arts and hospitals.

"In Montana, we like to volunteer and this report shows it," said Jan Lombardi, Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Community Service. "So many Montanans are giving their time and talents to tackle our communities toughest challenges. I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to our volunteers."

The Volunteering in America report shows the largest national increase in volunteering since 2003, with 63.4 million Americans (age 16 and older) volunteering across the nation in 2009, an increase of almost 1.6 million since 2008. This research shows that in the midst of the national recession, Americans are turning toward problems and serving their communities.

Research

Volunteering in America (VIA) is the most comprehensive data ever assembled on volunteer trends and demographics.

"Volunteering in America 2010" is based on data obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics through a "volunteering supplement" to the Current Population Survey from 2002 to 2008. Volunteers are defined as persons who did unpaid work through or for an organization. The report includes information for all 50 states, Washington, DC, and 198 cities, including 51 large cities, 75 mid-size cities, and 72 additional cities, based on Metropolitan Statistical Areas.

For more information about the report, visit: http://www.volunteeringinamerica.gov.

The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that each year engages more than five million Americans of all ages and backgrounds through its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps and Learn and Serve America programs. For more information, visit: http://www.NationalService.gov

The Governor’s Office of Community Service (http://serve.mt.gov/) was created in 1993 to expand national service and volunteerism in Montana.