The benefits of volunteering

Kennedy Jet Koolish always keeps an eye on little brother Kaeden. She remembers his battle with heart problems at a young age. So she called friends, held bake sales and charity auctions. Her "Kisses For Kaeden" group donates cash each year to hospitals.

Halloween never ends at the Shapiro home. 12 year-old Emma decided these old costumes could go to kids who couldn't afford new ones. The Shapiros founded "The Halloween Helpers". With Emma running the collection drive, they hauled-in more than two thousand costumes

Heather "Gee" with the Philadelphia Foundation says parents have to plant the philanthropy seed. Start by encouraging your kids' passion, and doing so at a young age. Involve their friends, and the whole family, too. Studies show 9 out of 10 youngsters who volunteer have family that does the same. And those benefits last a lifetime.
While parental involvement is key to this kind of growth, it's also possible to stunt that growth.
Studies show if you don't volunteer, there's a 60 percent chance your kid won't either.

LOVE THY NEIGHBOR: In general terms, volunteering is the practice of people working on behalf of others or a particular cause without payment for their time and services. Volunteering is generally considered an altruistic activity, intended to promote good or improve human quality of life, but people also volunteer for their own skill development, to meet others, to make contacts for possible employment, to have fun, and a variety of other reasons that could be considered self-serving.

STATISTICS: The Corporation for National and Community Service has released the following statistics for Volunteering in America 2010. Across the country, 63.4 million Americans volunteered to help their communities in 2009, an additional 1.6 million volunteers when compared to 2008, contributing 8.1 billion hours of service, which has an estimated dollar value of nearly $169 billion.

TOP THREE STATES FOR VOLUNTEER RATE:
Utah
Iowa
Minnesota

KISSES FOR KAEDEN: As of this month, the "Kisses for Kaeden" team has raised approximately $92,000 for numerous nonprofit organizations. They’ve also poured-in over 5,900 volunteer service hours.

BENEFITS OF VOLUNTEERING:
Learn or develop a new skill 
Be part of your community
Motivation and sense of achievement
Boost your career options
New interests and hobbies
New experiences
Meeting a diverse range of people
Send a signal to your employer, teachers, friends and family

For More Information, Contact:

Corporation for National and Community Service
1201 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20525
Email : info@cns.gov

(Information provided by: Ivanhoe)