Beyond the Thank-You: Building Volunteer Recognition That Sustains Engagement
National Volunteer Week and Global Volunteer Month give us an important opportunity to celebrate volunteers and their power to tackle society’s challenges.
But celebration alone is not enough. Organizations that sustain volunteer engagement over time understand that recognition and appreciation are not extras layered on after service happens, but are embedded throughout the volunteer experience. When done authentically and intentionally, they strengthen volunteer engagement, deepen belonging and help scale impact.
Research reveals that recognition requires more than a one-time event or thank you. The National Council for Voluntary Organisations found that feeling recognized enough, a culture of respect and trust, and the sense that one belongs were the top three factors influencing satisfaction among volunteers. In Volunteer Canada’s 2013 Volunteer Recognition Study, 80% of volunteers stated they would like to be recognized or thanked by hearing how their work has made a difference. Close to 70% stated they would like to be recognized by being thanked in person on an ongoing, informal basis.
Both studies underscore the importance of recognition and appreciation in the volunteer experience.
Defining Volunteer Recognition and Appreciation
So, what is the difference? Appreciation is the ongoing practice of helping people feel seen, heard and valued. It affirms volunteers for who they are, not just what they do. A culture of appreciation is something that people feel. Recognition is the system that names contributions, connects them to impact and creates opportunities for belonging and growth. It is the structure and practices that reveal and sustain culture.
This expansive approach to volunteer recognition and appreciation does more than say “thank you” and “congrats!” It builds the conditions for people to stay connected, deepen their commitment and inspire others to serve.
At its best, recognition highlights what volunteers have done and—importantly—why it matters. Recognition tells volunteers that their work and the impact it had are seen and valued. Appreciation tells them they belong and their involvement matters to the team.
Telling the Volunteer Story
Storytelling is a powerful recognition tool that can be leveraged to help shine a light on the volunteers, their work and its impact. It’s one of the reasons Points of Light acknowledges a Daily Point of Light honoree, including its 8300th honoree, Gavin Reddy. Through EMPWR, Gavin is helping Native youth and families build healthier habits through culturally rooted cooking and nutrition education. That translates into dozens of families who now have access to fresh, free produce along with support for healthy habits.
The significance of recognizing volunteers like Gavin Reddy is not just a spotlight alone but the way recognition helps volunteers feel that their work and impact are truly seen.
At Points of Light, we know that meaningful volunteer recognition is rooted in authenticity and a clear connection to impact rather than formal banquets or public fanfare. We see how appreciation cultivates relationships and connection.
By fostering a culture of gratitude that consistently appreciates and recognizes volunteers, we strengthen their connection to our mission and community. What’s more, we increase the likelihood that they will continue to show up, stay engaged and grow with us.
Global Volunteer Month Partners: Exploring the Heart of Volunteerism and Its Impact
(GVM), and Points of Light is proud to partner with incredible organizations mobilizing volunteers for change. This month, we explore the personal motivations – the “why” – behind this vital service. Here’s what our GVM program partners had to say.
engages volunteers in Jewish service, blending hands-on action with Jewish learning and reflection to address social needs. This unique approach connects volunteers to issues through a Jewish lens, enriching their service with cultural and historical context.
Volunteers are crucial to Repair the World’s mission of fostering a vibrant Jewish community through social change. They directly support service partners, deepen participants’ Jewish identities and build stronger communities. Without volunteers, Repair the World couldn’t meet community needs, connect individuals to their heritage through service or cultivate collective action.
One of Repair the World’s key programs,
, has volunteers commit five to 10 hours weekly to local nonprofits and NGOs, engaging in community building and learning rooted in Jewish values. This program has contributed over 55,000 service hours since 2020. In addition to its internal programming, partnering with GVM allows Repair the World to reach more volunteers and more partners, aiming to inspire one million acts of service and learning by 2030 toward Tikkun Olam (repairing the world).
“In the face of unprecedented antisemitism in the United States and war in Israel, we saw an inspiring surge in the number of participants showing up to live their Jewish values through meaningful Jewish service. At this pivotal moment for the Jewish community, we are filled with hope for the future of our work and also with deep resolve for its great importance.” — Cindy Greenberg, CEO, Repair the World
Operation Gratitude: A Nationwide “Thank You” Powered by Volunteers
, another Global Volunteer Month partner, embodies the power of collective appreciation for our military and first responder communities. Their mission is to express gratitude and honor the service of these dedicated individuals by creating opportunities for all Americans to show their thanks.
Operation Gratitude offers diverse ways to get involved, catering to all ages and abilities. Volunteers can participate in energetic in-person care package assemblies or contribute virtually through initiatives like the “
” program, collection drives, letter writing, paracord lanyard making and more. Every activity directly supports those who serve.
Thanks to their nationwide network, Operation Gratitude has sent over 4.2 million care packages since 2003, a testament to the collective desire to say, “thank you” to deployed servicemembers, veterans, first responders, recruit graduates, military spouses and caregivers.
“Our volunteers are the heartbeat of our mission. Without them, our vision of honoring and uplifting our heroes would remain unfulfilled. They are the true force behind every care package, every smile, and every expression of thanks.” — Meg Barron, executive director, Operation Gratitude
Best Friends Animal Society: A Volunteer-Powered Path to No-Kill
, a national leader working to end the killing of dogs and cats in U.S. shelters by 2025, is our next Global Volunteer Month partner. Their ambitious “no-kill” goal relies heavily on the passion and dedication of their vast network of volunteers. Best Friends offers a wide array of volunteer opportunities, both in person and virtual, catering to diverse skills and availability.
From hands-on animal care and event support to donor stewardship, website writing, social media moderation and even creating learning modules, volunteers are integral to nearly every aspect of their work. Their growing remote volunteer program, known as NOVA (National Operations Volunteers and Ambassadors), allows individuals nationwide to contribute from their own communities.
Volunteers directly contribute to animal care, facilitate adoptions through fostering and transport, cultivate donor relationships, gather crucial data to target resources and play a vital role in their annual national conference, impacting animal welfare professionals across the country. Having previously partnered with Points of Light through the
, Best Friends is thrilled to re-engage and elevate their volunteer engagement strategies on a global platform.
“In 2024, more than 12,000 volunteers donated more than 520,000 hours of help! Their efforts translate into animal lives saved. The passionate and skilled volunteers who are our partners in this work have a lifesaving impact on animals across the country. They play an integral part in Best Friends achieving its mission.” — Julie Castle, CEO, Best Friends Animal Society
AmeriCorps: Empowering Citizens to Serve and Strengthen Communities
Image courtesy AmeriCorps
Global Volunteer Month partner
, the federal agency dedicated to service and volunteerism, provides opportunities for Americans to address the nation’s most pressing challenges, improve lives and communities, and foster stronger civic engagement through sustained, results-driven service.
AmeriCorps works with a vast network of nonprofit, community, faith-based, tribal and government partners. Each year, they engage Americans of all backgrounds in service at over 34,000 locations nationwide, tackling critical issues in education, health, economic opportunity, disaster services, environmental stewardship and support for veterans and military families. Through public-private partnerships, AmeriCorps invests significant federal resources in local solutions powered by national service and volunteering. AmeriCorps members and
volunteers are on the front lines of addressing major community challenges.
AmeriCorps believes that national service is a vital complement to governmental efforts, requiring broad citizen participation. For every dollar invested in AmeriCorps, significant value is returned to the economy and communities. Volunteering is seen as the very heartbeat of healthy communities, providing essential support to schools, shelters, hospitals and various civic and nonprofit organizations. For over two decades, AmeriCorps has also collaborated with the U.S. Census Bureau to track volunteerism and civic engagement, providing crucial data on the nation’s civic health.
The Rippling Impact of Your “Why” During Global Volunteer Month
celebrates the power of individual action. Whether it’s a desire to live out deeply held values like Tikkun Olam, a heartfelt need to express gratitude to those who serve, a profound compassion for animals in need or a fundamental belief in strengthening communities through civic engagement, the motivations behind volunteering are as diverse as the individuals themselves. Yet, these personal drivers converge into a powerful force for good, creating tangible and lasting change.
This Global Volunteer Month, we encourage you to reflect on your own “why.” What issues resonate deeply with you? What kind of impact do you want to make in the world? Just as the volunteers for our partners have found meaningful ways to contribute their time and talents, you too have the power to be a force for positive change.
Whether it’s a few hours a month or a more significant commitment, your individual action, driven by your personal “why,” can create a ripple effect of hope and progress in your community and beyond. Join us in celebrating the power of volunteers and discover your own unique way to make a difference.
Volunteer Ireland Champions Inclusion with TEAM IV Project
Volunteer Ireland, a Points of Light Global Network affiliate, is leading the charge in promoting social inclusion for people with disabilities through its involvement with a variety of projects, but specifically the TEAM IV (Training European Active Mentors for Inclusive Volunteering) project. In partnership with our friends at Pro Vobis, Points of Light’s Romanian affiliate, and other European organizations, TEAM IV is breaking new ground by training mentors to support volunteers with disabilities and creating a platform to connect mentors and mentees across Europe.
“We’re in the early stages of this project, which addresses inclusive volunteering,” said Stuart Garland, learning and capacity building manager at Volunteer Ireland. “People are used to looking for wheelchair accessibility, but we’re teaching them to look much further than that. There are many invisible (hidden) disabilities, and organizations often have barriers in place that they’re not even aware of.”
The TEAM IV project recognizes that while volunteering offers numerous benefits, people with disabilities often face barriers to participation. To address this, TEAM IV will train 250 mentors specialized in supporting people with disabilities who are volunteers or wish to be volunteers. The project team is also currently developing an online platform that can be used for training, matching mentors and mentees, and providing training materials in different languages.
“The project is all about providing mentors for people who want to volunteer and have disabilities of any form – hidden or visible,” Stuart shares. “The idea is that volunteer mentors will work one-on-one with these individuals to support them through the process. We’re hoping this will help normalize disabilities as well as provide more access and fairness in volunteer opportunities.”
TEAM IV’s innovative approach will result in an online training course that develops and strengthens the capacity of volunteer trained mentors through a European mentoring program for volunteers with disabilities. Mentors are crucial for supporting and empowering volunteers with disabilities, as shown by The TEAM IV State of the Art Report, a publication co-funded by the European Union.
The report reveals that various mentoring models and approaches are being implemented across Europe to cater to the diverse needs of volunteers with disabilities. However, challenges like limited opportunities, accessibility issues and stigma persist. Despite these challenges, best practices are emerging, with organizations offering innovative programs that enhance community integration for adults with intellectual disabilities and autism.
TEAM IV is also focused on working with organizations to bridge the gap in volunteering and provide safer spaces for volunteers with disabilities. Often, organizations quickly assume they can’t provide any sort of experience for these volunteers – even when they don’t know what the disability is.
“In some cases, it’s less of a disability and more of a support need,” Stuart reflects. “Organizations need to be coached on how to tailor opportunities to different individuals. Sometimes, especially in cases of things like ADHD and autism, it’s really helpful to have that different perspective and can be an asset.”
Volunteer Ireland is currently working on pieces of the education portion of the project, including designing a virtual training through the Articulate platform. This will eventually provide a free, on-demand, open-source training for interested mentors as early next year. By redefining, improving and formalizing the mentoring process for the TEAM IV project, Volunteer Ireland and its partners will contribute to the active participation of people with disabilities in civic life—while also advocating for social inclusion to policymakers and stakeholders across Europe.
The TEAM IV project is an exciting step forward in promoting social inclusion and empowering people with disabilities through volunteering. By fostering a culture of mentorship and support, Volunteer Ireland and its partners are helping to create a more inclusive and equitable society for all.
How Hands On Manila, Points of Light’s First Affiliate Outside of the US, Is Shaping Global Volunteerism
In a world that increasingly demands both individual and collective action, volunteering is a powerful force for positive change. At the forefront of volunteer engagement,
.
We spoke with ND-Kristine B. Ambrosio, executive director of Hands On Manila, and Gianna Montinola, the president of Hands On Manila and co-founder who launched the organization in 2001. Together with their team, they have cultivated a thriving hub for volunteer engagement.
Hands On Manila holds a unique distinction: it was Points of Light’s first international Global Network affiliate. This pioneering partnership has shaped the network, fostering growth and connection on a global scale.
Courtesy Hands On Manila
“Our partnership with Points of Light has provided invaluable support in multiple ways,” shares Ambrosio. “It strengthened our resource mobilization efforts, particularly in corporate volunteer programs, by connecting us with Points of Light’s extensive international network. Additionally, being affiliated with Points of Light has enhanced our credibility on a global scale. We also benefit from access to key communication materials and best practices shared through the Global Network platform, which help us refine our messaging and engagement strategies.”
Today, Hands On Manila builds on this strong foundation. While they primarily design customized corporate volunteer programs, they continue to offer individual volunteer activities—staying true to how they started.
Their work focuses on four key pillars: Education, Environment, Health & Wellness and Livelihood. Two flagship programs, Servathon and Good Deeds Day, exemplify their commitment to large-scale impact. Servathon brings together corporate volunteers for impactful service projects, while Good Deeds Day, a global movement, encourages acts of kindness and service in countless ways.
“Volunteering isn’t just about giving—it’s about creating connections and building a stronger, more compassionate world, one action at a time.”
— Gianna Montinola, president and co-founder, Hands On Manila
Courtesy Hands On Manila
Measuring the impact of these initiatives is paramount to Hands On Manila’s work. “We implement a post-activity feedback system to assess volunteer experiences in program execution, beneficiary engagement and sustainability,” explains Ambrosio. “To ensure long-term impact, we actively involve both corporate and community stakeholders in maintaining and sustaining the support provided. This includes regular follow-ups, scheduled visits and random check-ins with partner communities to track progress and reinforce commitment.”
Recognizing and appreciating the contributions of volunteers is a core value at Hands On Manila. “We make sure our volunteers feel valued through certificates, shoutouts on social media and appreciation events,” shares Montinola. “For corporate partners, we share impact reports to highlight their contributions. Plus, our big events like Servathon and Good Deeds Day are great opportunities to celebrate and recognize volunteer efforts. We believe a little gratitude goes a long way in keeping people inspired to get involved!”
This February, Hands On Manila takes center stage as the host of the annual Points of Light Global Gathering. This multi-day event promises to be a powerful opportunity for collaboration and innovation amongst nonprofit and NGO leaders.
“We’re looking forward to connecting with Global Network leaders from around the world, exchanging ideas, and learning from different approaches to volunteering,” says Ambrosio. “It’s also a great chance to highlight volunteer efforts in Asia and explore new ways to collaborate. Plus, we’re excited to have the these leaders join Hands On Manila’s public conference, where we’ll discuss the impact of bayanihan [a spirit of civic unity and cooperation among Filipinos] and corporate volunteerism. It’ll be interesting to see the insights that come out of these conversations.”
The Hands On Manila leaders feel strongly about the vital role of volunteering in today’s world. “Volunteering helps tackle real issues, brings people together and creates positive change,” asserts Ambrosio. “Whether it’s sharing skills, helping in crises or supporting communities, volunteering is a simple way to make a big impact.”
Hands On Manila, through its dedication to service and its leadership within the Points of Light Global Network, certainly embodies this truth as it inspires individuals and organizations to make a difference, one act of kindness at a time.
Elevate Your Employee Volunteering Program by Integrating Volunteer Days and Key Milestones
Timing is everything, and when it comes to employee volunteering, aligning efforts with meaningful moments can transform a program from routine to remarkable. Whether it’s a nationally recognized volunteer day, a cultural celebration or a corporate anniversary, these inflection points offer unparalleled opportunities to drive awareness, engage employees and amplify impact.
By integrating volunteering with these milestones, companies can tap into a natural sense of collective energy and shared purpose. These times often come with built-in resources—whether it’s national campaigns, public awareness, nonprofit initiatives or collaboration with employee resource groups—making it simpler and more intuitive to connect employees with opportunities to serve or launch a new volunteer program component.
Additionally, leveraging such occasions can help companies reach new audiences—internal and external—deepen employee engagement and align their social impact strategies with broader societal movements.
Listed below is a calendar of some of the opportunities throughout the year when integrating employee volunteerism and your program makes good sense. Although this list isn’t exhaustive, capitalize on what’s culturally relevant and aligned with your company’s values and focus areas.
Leveraging key moments and milestones not only energizes interest and participation but also helps embed volunteerism into the rhythm of workplace culture, which fosters a sense of purpose and community year-round.
What other moments and milestones matter to your employee volunteer program?
Suggested company milestones
Founder’s birthday
Anniversary of the founding of the company or a merger or acquisition
Launch of new internal tagline or employee-focused initiative
Launch of a new brand, product or service
Anniversary of first location (store, office, plant, etc.)
Leadership transitions
Achieving significant partnerships, goals and targets
Entrance into a new market
Achieving sustainability certifications or patents
Spark the Change Colorado Ignites Action in Unhoused Communities
A critical issue facing Denver is the rise in homelessness. Recognizing the urgency, the City of Denver launched a citywide initiative to address this crisis with the goal of housing 1,000 unhoused individuals by the end of 2023.
, a Points of Light Global Network Affiliate dedicated to igniting change through the power of service and civic engagement, played a crucial role in mobilizing volunteers to support this effort.
Volunteers answered the City’s call, contributing their time and energy in various ways. Through their dedicated service, Denver’s goal of housing 1,000 individuals was not only met but surpassed. We spoke with Leanne Mersmann, manager of Volunteer Services at Spark the Change Colorado, to learn more.
Adrian, House1000 Mental Wellness Coordinator, shows a volunteer how to hand out hygiene kits. Caption and Photo Provided by Spark the Change Colorado.
Tell us about a project or initiative you’re working on that’s making a big impact on your community.
According to a 2023 Point in Time survey, 1,400 Denver residents were unsheltered and living outdoors without access to the basic housing and services we all need to thrive. This problem has expanded dramatically since 2019. The City of Denver decided to bring together a coordinated citywide response to the homelessness crisis affecting many Denverites.
The goal was to house 1,000 people experiencing homelessness and permanently close encampments by the end 2023. With the help of Spark the Change Colorado volunteers, we reached that goal! Volunteers moved luggage, made beds, cleaned hotel rooms, installed carbon monoxide detectors, made dog toys, put together hygiene kits and so much more throughout December 2023.
The results of this remarkable effort are truly inspiring:
1,034 individuals were moved indoors, with 98% remaining housed
270 unique volunteers participated, with 43 volunteering multiple times
708 hours of service were contributed
100% of volunteers felt appreciated and expressed willingness to volunteer again
“At Spark the Change Colorado, volunteerism has no age, no particular look, race, gender or background. All of our volunteers are the heroes that embody what it means to show up for community! This is why we love doing what we do at Spark! It’s so easy to find pride and joy in celebrating every volunteer who is sparking change with us across the state.” —Patrice Hawkins, CEO
Married couple Amanda and Brandon volunteered more than anyone else in the month of December 2023. They are taking residents’ bags off the bus and into their new tiny homes. Caption and photo provided by Spark the Change Colorado.
How are you recognizing and thanking volunteers for their contributions?
We had a volunteer appreciation party in January with a special video from all the housing directors and Mike Johnston, the mayor of Denver, saying thank you to our amazing volunteers. During Global Volunteer Month, we will be running a campaign to highlight our volunteers from across various program areas to thank them for their commitment and love of community. We plan to run a campaign where we take photos of people doing their volunteer service, and will call it, “Caught Caring…” We have many nonprofit partners we plan to ask to help highlight their volunteers as well. This would go along with a photo of volunteers holding a sign saying why they volunteer.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give someone who’s looking to get more involved in their community through civic engagement?
If you’re someone in Colorado, go to the Spark the Change Colorado website! We have a large database of nonprofits throughout the state that lists their needs and volunteer opportunities that anyone can read and sign up for.
Affiliate dedicated to empowering individuals to create change through meaningful volunteering. HandsOn London believes everyone should have the opportunity to make a difference. Their model is based on connecting volunteers with impactful projects across London, focusing on flexibility and convenience. With a focus on corporate volunteering, individual volunteering and family volunteering, they offer options for anyone wanting to contribute. We spoke with Tanshi Bhatia at HandsOn London to learn more about what this organization is doing throughout the city and beyond.
Tell us about a project or initiative you’re working on that’s making a big impact on your community.
WrapUp London is one of the largest winter volunteering events in the city aiming to collect warm coats for those in need, including unhoused communities, refugees and families. The collection usually runs from November to the start of December at the Kings Cross, Liverpool Street, Moorgate, Waterloo and London Bridge tube stations. After 13 successful volunteering years in the U.K., the initiative has now become global.
Over three days, 2,861 coats were donated and 182 volunteers took part. In all, 16,420 coats were donated for WrapUp London and 1,115 individual and corporate volunteers gave more than 5,575 hours to the Wrap Up London Campaign.
“I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who came out and donated coats, shared their stories and supported this campaign. It’s great to see how many people want to help those in need. I’d like to extend a hearty thank you to our wonderful individual and corporate volunteers, who selflessly give their time to make this campaign what it is – outstanding. The smiles and energy brought a bit of joy to commuters, which is an achievement in itself! Thank you!!” — Cassandra Wales, project & volunteer coordinator, HandsOn London
Do you have an upcoming special event or milestone that your organization is celebrating? Tell us about it!
is celebrated in April across 110 countries and shines a yearly spotlight on community and government volunteering initiatives. Throughout the month we host corporate teams and smaller groups events in order to spread the word about volunteer stories and the positivity that volunteering generates. This past year volunteers joined us at St. James Clements Community Centre in North Kensington to renovate the garden of the social hub for an underserved neighborhood. With more than 30 volunteers of all ages and abilities committed to the project, we were able to prepare the outdoor space ready for therapy gardening and allowing the center to use its garden to offer more counseling services to their community. We are hoping to create an even bigger difference this year on April 14th, 2024 for Good Deeds Day.
Do small things with great love. A young volunteer helps their parent tidy up a plant pit. Photo and Caption Courtesy HandsOn London
Are you working with Points of Light Global Network affiliates on a community project? Share the details.
AbbVie’s week of possibilities is a week of corporate volunteering, from June 24th through June 28th. It’s based in the Windsor area, with volunteering projects focusing on green space developments and community care projects. Some of the events include volunteering at seniors’ day centers and doing activities like interacting with members of the center, cleaning, painting and gardening.
Giggle Bags is another project that we host in which the volunteers help create and decorate small goodie bags filled with toiletries and essentials for people in need. We also have some remote projects such as book making for positive ageing for seniors.
How are you recognizing and thanking volunteers for their contributions?
We are always thankful for all our volunteers and all the contributions and work they do to help bring a change in the community. We recognize our volunteers and their contributions through online shoutouts and thank you newsletters after family days.
In addition to volunteering, describe other elements of the Points of Light Civic Circle®️ that your work involves. How has the Civic Circle become central to your approach?
For the Social Entrepreneur, element, we partner with the needs of charities and volunteers with flexibility. Since we don’t receive government funding, we are able to respond to the needs of communities and charities. For the Listen and Learn element, we give high priority towards recognizing the needs of the people in our community and working towards bringing a change. We also focus on gaining feedback from our volunteers and trying to be better everyday.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give someone who’s looking to get more involved in their community through civic engagement?
Find what you are passionate about and start getting involved, even if it is on a small scale.
Volunteering Hungary’s Dedication to Building Community Connections
(Önkéntes Központ Alapítvány), a Global Network Affiliate building a brighter future by connecting volunteers with meaningful opportunities in Hungary.
Volunteering Hungary understands that a thriving society is built on connection and cooperation. They believe in connecting volunteers, nonprofit organizations and businesses to foster collaboration, meet community needs and create lasting change.
We spoke with Borbála Hadrévy, a project manager at Volunteering Hungary, to learn more about how they work with their communities, especially seniors, and recognize their volunteers.
Tell us about a project or initiative you’re working on that’s making a big impact on your community.
Our Friends of the Elderly program aims to help those living alone in society. Our volunteers visit seniors as friends — chatting, walking, playing games, listening to their stories or even shopping together. Volunteers are often their only link to the outside world. We also organize outside activities for seniors, to get them out of their home, at least for a little while. Every year we organize a Christmas lunch featuring performers, but they have also taken part in Women’s Day greetings, kids’ gymnastics, a ballet and folkdance show, a petting zoo program, an Easter party and a sightseeing cruise.
We supported 60 seniors in Budapest, with 139 new applying volunteers, 50 active visiting volunteers, three training events for volunteers and four fun programs in 2023.
“I always look at the faces of the elderly. It is wonderful how the loneliness disappears, and we can see their true faces.” — Gréti Kázmér (leader of Friends of the Elderly program, Volunteering Hungary)
Do you have an upcoming special event or milestone that your organization is celebrating? Tell us about it!
We had our Friends of the Elderly carnival in February 2024, which saw 50 seniors, volunteers and 50 children from different kindergartens. The carnival includes crafts with children, a costume show and children’s show for seniors, eating special carnival delicacies together.
Are you working with Points of Light Global Network affiliates on a community project? Share the details.
: A Pathway To Employment. For this initiative, we work with unemployed young people as well as people over 45 to make them aware of their skills and improve their employability in sectors of the future, through an innovative and unique pathway.
We also work with the Regionalne Centrum Wolontariatu in Poland on the EST Erasmus+ project: European Seniors Together. The project aims to develop a precise method for senior experts to mentor young people who need help in their professional or personal lives.
In the past we’ve worked with Pro Vobis in Romania and TimeHeroes in Bulgaria as well.
How are you recognizing and thanking volunteers for their contributions?
Each year, we give Volunteering Awards in four categories. This ceremony is held to thank them for their outstanding work. We celebrated more than 100 senior volunteers on their volunteer club’s 10th birthday in 2023. Every Christmas we give presents to our volunteers who are active in any of our programs. We are continuously working on finding and providing them with more and more volunteering opportunities.
In addition to volunteering, describe other elements of the Points of Light Civic Circle® that your work involves. How has the Civic Circle become central to your approach?
For the “Vote” element, in 2024 Volunteering Hungary participated in the VVV campaign (Vote Volunteer Vision). The aim is to call the attention of volunteer-involving organizations to discover and develop the European Parliament candidates’ opinions on volunteering for the 2024 European Parliament Election. We also share the idea in secondary schools for those over 18.
We’ve used “Listen & Learn” for trainings in volunteer management, pro bono projects, EST (Europen Seniors Together) European project for mentoring young people by senior experts.
For “Work” we have our “APTE” (A Pathway To Employment) European project for job seekers. For “Donate,” we collect and distribute our corporate partners’ donations. And for “Social Entrepreneur,” we support institutions (shelters, temporary homes for families, children’s homes, schools, etc.) with corporate volunteer programs, mentoring programs for young people in need and sensitization programs between NGOs and corporate sector.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give someone who’s looking to get more involved in their community through civic engagement?
Try to find a volunteer activity in which you feel comfortable and fulfilled in every way.
How United Way of Ventura County Fosters Healthy Smiles
is a time to recognize the power of individuals working together to make a positive difference in their communities. This month, Points of Light is highlighting United Way of Ventura County, a Points of Light Global Network Affiliate dedicated to improving lives by focusing on education, financial stability and health.
Tooth decay, despite being largely preventable, remains the most common chronic childhood disease.
understands its detrimental impact on nutrition, development and school attendance. That’s why they’ve launched the Building Healthy Smiles program. We spoke with Aissa Fernandez, manager of Community Impact Programs at United Way of Ventura County, to find out more about the program and its impact.
Tell us about a project or initiative you’re working on that’s making a big impact on your community.
United Way of Ventura County’s Building Healthy Smiles program seeks to tackle the issue of tooth decay by focusing on education and prevention. Despite being preventable, tooth decay is the number one chronic disease affecting children. It can contribute to a wide range of problems including poor nutrition, sub-normal growth and unnecessary pain. Dental pain because of tooth decay can also impact school absenteeism and lead to a significant loss in attendance-based school funding.
Our strategy is a school-liked prevention approach where we, in collaboration with our oral health care partners who volunteer their time, conduct on-site oral health education, screening and fluoride varnish application events. We specifically target schools where 50% or more of the student population is eligible for the Free or Reduced-Price Meal program. For children who we identify with dental decay during the screening process, we work with our dental partners, the school nurse and the child’s family to connect the child to dental care and treatment.
Establishing a dental home for students without one remains our top priority. The assessment events we provide focus on kindergarten and 3rd grade students. Kindergarteners who have not completed the state mandated oral health assessment are a part of our target population. We also screen 3rd grade students to follow California’s Oral Health Plan which sets targets for tooth decay, untreated decay and sealant prevalence in 3rd grade children. In fiscal year 2022-2023, Building Healthy Smiles screened over 1,000 students and provided over 600 students with an application of fluoride varnish.
“In Ventura County, we have over 100,000 children who do not have access to a dental home. We’ve partnered strategically with Clinicas and others to provide school-based programs that provide children with an education component of proper dental hygiene and preventative treatment, with the ultimate goal of providing a dental home for those 100,000 children.” — Mitchel Sloan, president & CEO, United Way of Ventura County
Do you have an upcoming special event or milestone that your organization is celebrating? Tell us about it!
In honor of National Children’s Dental Health Month, throughout the month of February, Building Healthy Smiles conducted school screenings at local elementary schools.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give someone who’s looking to get more involved in their community through civic engagement?
Any act of service, no matter how small, can make a difference. Do what you can, with what you’ve got, wherever you are.
affiliate that connects businesses and community organizations throughout the Netherlands to build stronger communities.
Samen voor Eindhoven believes that magical things happen when businesses and community organizations work together for a common cause. The organization’s goal is to foster a world where everyone has the opportunity to participate, and they believe that connecting businesses and community organizations helps achieve that. We spoke with Marbritta van Boldrik, content manager at Samen voor Eindhoven, to get her perspective.
“The most important thing in life is the connections you make with others,” says Paul Ypinga, CEO of Samen voor Eindhoven.
Tell us about a project or initiative you’re working on that’s making a big impact on your community.
Courtesy Samen voor Eindhoven
We organize (almost every day) impact day for corporate volunteers and local NGO’s. For example, our popular street tour, where formerly unhoused individuals walk with corporate people through our city and tell them about how they survived their period of homelessness. They also show them their personal spots. After every impact day, we send a survey with questions to measure and learn.
How are you recognizing and thanking volunteers for their contributions?
We thank them during the (personal) briefing or de-briefing. Sometimes we call the volunteer leader or give them a thank you postcard.
In addition to volunteering, what other initiatives inform your approach?
Courtesy Samen voor Eindhoven
Corporate volunteering is big. Daily, we connect people from Brainport companies with local NGO’s and their target groups (like people living with illness or underserved individuals). We like to burst bubbles so two groups can learn from each other!
What’s one piece of advice you’d give someone who’s looking to get more involved in their community through civic engagement?
Keep an open mind and open heart and try to listen to each other. And remember: doing good makes you happy.
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