Hoosiers Have Room to Move Up Volunteering ‘Ladder’
(Image of volunteers at the University of Saint Francis courtesy of Serve Indiana)
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowNew statistics from the Corporation for National and Community Service show volunteer services contributed by Hoosiers in 2015 valued at $3.1 billion. Indiana ranks 25th in the United States in terms of volunteer participation, which Serve Indiana State Service Director Marc McAleavey says gives Indiana room to "move up the ladder." Indianapolis ranked 10th among the country’s largest metropolitan areas for its rate of volunteerism.
McAleavey believes getting more Hoosiers engaged in giving presents challenges at a very fundamental level. "Volunteerism in many ways, cuts the modern tradition of going to work and coming home and not leaving the confines of our house," said McAleavey. "What we’re trying to do is work past the social phenomenon of Americans being in isolation." He says his organization and the community can help break that isolated cycle by telling the story of Hoosier Hospitality and raising awareness of volunteering. The study also shows nearly 97 percent of Hoosiers frequently eat dinner with other members of their household, which McAleavey says presents a "big opportunity to leave our kitchen table and go help out neighbors."
The high ranking for Indianapolis, he says, has a ripple effect throughout the business community, as well. "A company that encourages volunteerism and has a well-defined corporate social responsibility platform has talent that stays," which he says saves companies and cities money through providing valuable free services and improving the local quality of life.
You can connect to Indiana’s full ranking data by clicking here.
Serve Indiana recently released its State Service Plan, outlining priorities for the organization over the next two years: