Challenge encourages employer-supported volunteering

Ten Kansas employers participated in the first Give Back Kansas Challenge hosted by the Kansas Volunteer Commission (KVC) and Volunteer Kansas.

The Challenge ran from April 1-May 31 with the purpose of engaging Kansans in employer-supported volunteering. Collectively, nearly 2,600 volunteer hours were completed at various organizations across Kansas by 922 employees, for an average of 2.81 volunteer hours per employee participant.

“Volunteer Kansas’ goal for the first year of the Challenge was to have at least 10 businesses participate, giving back to their communities in service. We are pleased that goal was met and look forward to increasing participation next year,” said Nola Brown, executive director of Volunteer Kansas. “The Challenge is a quadruple win. The employees who participate reaped the personal reward of helping others; the businesses are better known in their communities for corporate caring; multiple organizations benefitted from the helping hands of volunteers; and three charities will receive grants to help them achieve their missions.”

Participating businesses were placed into small, medium and large size categories based upon the number of employees they had. The winners are:

• Small organization: Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Topeka
• Medium organization: TGC Group, Wichita
• Large organization: Armed Forces Insurance, Leavenworth

Each of these organizations has designated a charity to receive a $1,000 grant - on their behalf - from Volunteer Kansas. The Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman has selected Kansas Advocates for Better Care. TGC Group has selected Sunlight Children’s Advocacy & Rights Foundation, and Armed Forces Insurance has selected American Red Cross Serving Kansas for the Linwood tornado and flooding victims’ fund.

“Although the Challenge has concluded, the KVC encourages participating employers to maintain their high commitment to volunteerism”, said Jessica Noble, executive director of KVC, “Research of employer volunteer programs has shown a positive impact on employee engagement, organizational commitment, job satisfaction and retention.”

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The mission of the Kansas Volunteer Commission is to empower all Kansans to meet community needs through service. The Commission's primary role is to provide resources and leadership to support local initiatives that tackle community needs. As the state service commission, the KVC directs effective national service programs, provides volunteer management training opportunities and supports the work of Mentor Kansas. For more information, visit www.kanserve.org.

Volunteer Kansas Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charity based in Wichita. The organization’s website, www.Volunteerkansas.org, is devoted to increasing volunteerism in the state of Kansas and providing a hub for Kansans to find other Kansans who may need volunteer or material help. The website is a free service to individuals and organizations.