To honor the dedication of our community volunteers, and in conjunction with National Volunteer Month in April, United Way of Greater Kansas City is encouraging community members to nominate volunteers to be honored as CommUNITY Volunteers of the Year, presented by our Leaders United donor network. Any volunteer is eligible for nomination, regardless of their affiliation with United Way and its partner organizations.
“Leaders United is committed to playing an active role in shaping Kansas City’s future beyond financial giving,” said Anne Wright, chair of Leaders United. “We believe when we unite to volunteer and help others, our entire community is strengthened. Taking time to recognize the dedicated individuals who serve our neighbors is incredibly meaningful and rewarding for all involved.”
United Way of Greater Kansas City believes when the community is generous, everyone wins. One way to fuel the work we do is to volunteer. Each year, thousands of Kansas Citians do so by giving time to hundreds of United Way supported organizations – performing a variety of tasks that support our mission to improve health, education, and financial stability for all.
“We’re so thankful for the outpouring of service that many in our community give to causes that matter to them,” said Hannah Boehm, United Way of Greater Kansas City events director for immersive experiences. “Whether it’s packing food, reading to children, providing skills training, or tending to a community garden, United Way volunteers continuously prove there are a million ways to make a difference.”
Each year an estimated 23-percent of Americans, nearly 61 million people, formally serve with community organizations, providing 4.1 billion hours of service with an economic value of $122.9 billion. That number doubles when including those who give time in informal roles, serving in their neighborhoods and communities. While rates of volunteering dropped during the pandemic, many organizations are now seeing larger groups from corporations and schools returning to help others.
We’ll be celebrating these difference makers on our social media channels, and surprising two extraordinary volunteers (one youth and one adult) in-person with rewards for their selfless devotion to helping others during the month of April (dates to be announced later).
Nominations are being accepted now through Monday, April 1st. You can submit them online here.
About United Way of Greater Kansas City
At United Way of Greater Kansas City, our mission is to creatively deploy resources towards community betterment. We achieve this by working collaboratively with local partners on long-term solutions that remove barriers to social and economic mobility so that everyone, regardless of identity, income, or background – have the opportunity and access to a life of purpose, passion, and prosperity. Every year, 1 in 3 Kansas Citians find help through the United Way, and we continue to develop new and innovative ways to connect residents to the services, support and resources they need. More information on United Way of Greater Kansas City, or to donate directly, please visit UnitedWayGKC.com