What We Do
VIEW OUR 2011 ANNUAL REPORT
ABOUT THE COMMISSION
The Utah Commission on Volunteers, an office of the Lieutenant Governor, is housed with the Utah Department of Heritage and Arts. The Commission is comprised of 17 members representing local government, community based organizations and statewide networks with a staff of four. It furthers its mission of improving communities through service and volunteering by focusing on promoting community collaboration, volunteer recognition, youth service, and administering AmeriCorps national service programs.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2011
- Utah ranked #1 in the nation for volunteering for the past seven years (Corporation for National and Community Service report, “Volunteering and Civic Life in America: State Trends and Rankings”)
- On average, Utah’s 837,650 volunteers dedicate over 143.9 million hours of service
- Estimated economic contribution of the volunteer hours served is $3.7 billion annually
NATIONAL SERVICE
This year AmeriCorps, the Domestic Peace Corps, will engage more than 70,000 Americans nationwide in intensive, results-driven service in the areas of education, public safety, health and the environment. The Commission currently manages 5 programs operating throughout the state with over 1000 members. These members mobilize more than 45,000 volunteers (up from 13,000 in 2010) who tutor and mentor youth, connect underserved populations to health care resources and provide healthcare services to those populations, clean and tend parks and streams, teach environmental stewardship, and operate after school programs. These volunteers gave over 266,000 hours of service with an estimated value of over $4.8 million dollars in 2011.
COMMUNITY COLLABORATION
The Commission seeks to build and cultivate capacity in the volunteer and service community, recognize volunteer leaders, and inspire statewide volunteerism through collaboration and consensus. The Commission actively promotes volunteerism and functions as a clearinghouse, consultant, and training resource to volunteer centers throughout the state, including Campus Service, Involvement and Engagement Centers to expand public/private partnerships and volunteer mobilization capacity.
YOUTH SERVICE
The Commission seeks to foster civic engagement and leadership development in youth and increase the number of young people serving in their communities. Youth service is a proven strategy that promotes positive social behaviors, prepares youth for the workplace, and provides them with lifelong habits of leadership, problem-solving, empathy, and self-reliance.
The Commission seeks to build and cultivate capacity in the volunteer and service community by recognizing volunteer leaders and inspire statewide volunteerism through collaboration and consensus. Outstanding volunteers are recognized annually through the Lt. Governors Volunteer Awards events. Utah non-profits also have an opportunity to recognize dedicated volunteers through the Utah Commission on Volunteers, Volunteer Recognition Certificate program.