There is always breaking news involving volunteering.  Current topics

covered below include:    HOJ Receives 2009 HandsOn Network Leadership Award,  6 Days/6Ramps, New Partnership with PGA TOUR, Be the Change. Volunteer Poster Contest, Senate Passes Historic Bipartisan Expansion of National Service,  Caring and Sharing Hope 5K Walk/Run,  ServiceNation: A Campaign for a New America,  HandsOn Jacksonville CEO Visits the White House,   Volunteer Jacksonville Becomes HandsOn Jacksonville, Meet Michelle Nunn, Recovery After A Disaster, and Benefits of Volunteering. 

In addition, click here to view recent HandsOn Jacksonville managed projects.

2009 JEFFERSON AWARD FOR CORPORATE VOLUNTEERING

Employee Volunteering Is HOT!  And it’s time to recognize in a big way all the fantastic volunteer work that is being done for our community through our business community!

The Jacksonville Business Journal and HandsOn Jacksonville in conjunction with The Jefferson Awards (http://www.jeffersonawards.org/) are looking for businesses and their employees who dedicate time, talent and energy to charitable causes.   HandsOn Jacksonville awards will be given to small, medium and large companies with some companies from each size group also receiving a Jefferson Award. 

To learn more and to nominate your company, please go to http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/nomination/1707 . Deadline for nominations is Thursday, July 23rd..  If you have any questions, please contact Eleanor Snite at esnite@bizjournals.com.

HandsOn Jacksonville Receives

2009 HandsOn Network Leadership Award

HandsOn Jacksonville has been selected as the winner of the 2009 Points of Light & HandsOn Network Affiliate Leadership Award.  Judith A.M. Smith, President and CEO of HandsOn Jacksonville commented, " It is exciting, gratifying, and extremely humbling to be singled out from over 250 peer HandsOn action centers that are doing important and amazing work across the nation and in six countries around the world.  We focus our HandsOn volunteer projects on restoring schools as centers of the community, alleviating poverty, and preserving the environment.  This significant award is clear testimony of our value in this community and our leadership across our industry."

HandsOn Network, the volunteer-focused arm of Points of Light Institute, leads people from impulse to action, turning ideas for change into real projects.  Through their 250 Action Centers (Affiliates), they reach 83% of the American population and engage more than 70,000 nonprofits, government agencies, faith based organizations and companies.  Amy Smith, President of the HandsOn Network remarks “HandsOn Jacksonville has shown itself to be one of the best in the volunteer field and we are honored that they are a part of the HandsOn Network.  HandsOn Jacksonville’s leadership in the area of full brand adoption and the HandsOn modality of inspiring, equiping and mobilizing people

 to change our world is inspiring to Action Centers across the Network.  HandsOn Jacksonville has always championed the power of a strong, unified Network.”

6 Days/ 6 Ramps

HandsOn Jacksonville has been selected as one of six sites statewide to participate in the 6 Days/ 6 Ramps project. HOJ is partnering with The Housing Parnership, N. Florida MS Society, Independent Living Resource Center and Best Buddies in this project that seeks to expand the role of persons with disabilities.  Results of the project will improve their community through participation in national and volunteer service programs and projects; bring attention to the need of access for persons with disabilities by removing architectural, institutional and financial barriers so that persons with disabilities can increase, maintain or restore their independence and remain involved in their community and strengthen existing volunteer efforts to remove barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from participating in their community. 

Volunteers will build wheelchair ramps for local residents with disabilities whose income will not support the cost of constructing a wheelchair ramp. Builds will occur on May 12th and 14th, and June 6th, 9th and 11th.

HandsOn Network's New Partnership with PGA TOUR

HandsOn Jacksonville is delighted to locally announce a new national partnership between the HandsOn Network and the PGA TOUR.  This partnership will build on the PGA TOUR's longstanding tradition of engaging volunteers to completely run its events.  The partnership with the HandsOn Network, the nation's largest volunteer and civic action network, and PGA TOUR will mobilize more people to take action that changes the world.

Read More 

Be the Change. Volunteer Poster Contest

As part of the April salute to volunteering,  HandsOn Jacksonville sponsored the BE THE CHANGE...VOLUNTEER! POSTER CONTEST to educate the public about volunteering and show how anyone can change the world for the better by volunteering.  The contest was open to all Duval County Public School 5th grade students. Winners included: Austin Cutlip, 1st Place; Shawnee Gaskins(seen in picture), 2nd Place;Melissa Berrio, 3rd Place. Honorable Mentions went to Hye In Kim, Makella Beeks, Katina Bartholomew, Savannah Connelly, and Karla Marrero.

The artwork for this inaugeral 2009 poster contest was judged by members of The Art Center Cooperative.  This nonprofit organization provides Jacksonville with a wonderful group of professional artists who are intent on improving the quality of life in our city through art.  Their exceptional dedication in promoting the arts in our community earned them the 2009 Art of Caring award given at HandsOn Jacksonville's Celebration of Service event in April.

Senate Passes Historic Bipartisan Expansion of National Service

On March 27th, the United States Senate voted 79-19 to pass the most sweeping expansion and reform of national service programs in a generation.

 After renaming the legislation the “Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act,” the Senate burst into a standing ovation for the Massachusetts Senator, who crafted the legislation along with Senator Hatch and whose entire life has been devoted to public service. 

The Senate’s action follows the 321-105 House vote last week in support of H.R. 1388, the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act.  The Senate passed a substitute that largely mirrors the House bill, and differences between the versions are minor.  House leaders are planning for a vote on the Senate-passed bill as early as Monday.

 “I want to applaud all those who have worked so hard to see this bill through, and I am eager to sign it into law.  This legislation will help create new opportunities for millions of Americans at all stages of their lives,” said President Obama in a statement.  “Our work is not finished when I sign this bill into law – it has just begun. While our government can provide every opportunity imaginable for us to serve our communities, it is up to each of us to seize those opportunities. I call on all Americans to stand up and do what they can to serve their communities, shape our history and enrich both their own lives and the lives of others across this country.” 

The legislation would update and strengthen national service programs administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency created in 1993.  The Corporation engages four million Americans in result-driven service each year, including 75,000 AmeriCorps members, 492,000 Senior Corps volunteers, 1.1 million Learn and Serve America students, and 2.2 million additional community volunteers mobilized and managed through the agency’s programs.                                          

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            Caring and Sharing Hope 5K Walk/Run

HandsOn Jacksonville was extremely excited to work with the RITA Foundation and 1st Place Sports to bring the Caring and Sharing Hope 5K Walk/Run as a fund raiser for nonprofits registered in the state of Florida and school groups in the area.  This year, the event was offered on May 16th.

Nonprofits and school groups participated and raise money for their organization. One local agency, The ARC Jacksonville participated in the RITA Race for the first time. Their Assistant Executive Director, Cara Bowyer commented "The Arc Jacksonville's 'Team Arc' truly enjoyed competing in the RITA Caring and Sharing 5K on May 16, 2009. Team Arc had a total of 60 participants run/walk in the race. The ARC Jacksonville's Board of Directors, staff and program participants each had a fundraising goal for the RITA.  Not only did the Board, staff and program participants meet their fundraising goals, The Arc Jacksonville staff and program participants exceeded their goals!  The Arc is happy to report that we raised over $20,000.00 on the RITA!"

HandsOn Jacksonville, Rita Foundation and 1st Place Sports will be offering this race again in the fall with a new name....The Human Race. The date will be October 10th.

Join the fun and help raise money at the same time!  Entry forms will be available soon through 1st Place Sports via their web site, www.1stplacesports.com. Organizations that wish to participate are asked to attend a information and training workshop. The next workshop will be offered on July 21st, 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM, at HandsOn Jacksonville. Contact Nancy Knight, 332-6767 ext. 114, if you plan to attend. Space is limited.

ServiceNation: A Campaign for a New America

HandsOn Jacksonville president and CEO Judith A. M. Smith recently attended a weekend leadership retreat at the magnificent White Oak Plantation. Leaders of approximately 60 state and national organizations and associations were also in attendance.  All were committed to expanding service opportunities in the communities they serve. 

ServiceNation is a campaign for a new America; an America where citizens unite and take responsibility for the nation’s future; an America that strengthens the great tradition of citizen service.  ServiceNation is about an America that is ruggedly idealistic, compassionate, and above all committed to the common ground of service in pursuit of America’s boldest promise: liberty and justice for all.  For more about ServiceNation and strategies for becoming a nation of service, please visit www.servicenation.org. 

HandsOn Jacksonville CEO Visits the White House

Judith A. M. Smith, DM, President and CEO of HandsOn Jacksonville attended a celebration at The White House on January 7, 2009.  Smith attended Twenty Years and a Thousand Points of Light, Celebrating the Vision of President George H. W. Bush. The celebration honored the servant leadership of President George H. W. Bush and celebrated 20 years of his vision for building a stronger nation through "one thousand points of light."

This was a unique opportunity to both honor the President's founding vision and celebrate the important work of the Points of Light Institute  where Dr. Smith serves as a board member. According to Dr. Smith, "having the current president and both first ladies attending the celebration made the event incredibly special." The Points of Light Foundation merged with the HandsOn Network in 2008 creating the largest volunteer network in the world.  

  Volunteer Jacksonville Becomes HandsOn Jacksonville

During a press conference held at Sallye B. Mathis Elementary School, the administration and members of the Board of Directors of Volunteer Jacksonville announced their name change to HandsOn Jacksonville (HOJ), August 14, 2008.  Speakers including Michelle Nunn, CEO, Points of Light Institute and HandsOn Network (L); Judith A.M.Smith, DM, CEO, HandsOn Jacksonville (M); and Wendy Spencer, CEO, Volunteer Florida (R) can be seen in the picture above.

Coinciding with the announcement, HOJ led three simultaneous service projects at the elementary school utilizing business, church, and community volunteers.  They included:

Service Project #1

Elaine Bedell, member artist from the Art Center Cooperative, Inc., led a group of dedicated and professional artists in the first of two mural projects that will cover two separate outside school walls at Sallye B. Matthis.  A mural of our solar system completed on this day took 10 artists approximately 11 hours apeice to paint.  Research was done ahead of time so that the planets would be painted to scale as much as possible.  A mural of a space launch will be created by these talented ladies at a later date.

Service Project #2

Volunteers rolled up their sleeves and got their hands dirty planting flowers and shrubs under the guidance of master gardener and former Wahovia employee, Walt English.  The gardens will be used to teach students about the life cycle of butterflies and for them to have a pleasant place to study and read.

Service Project #3

Volunteers from the  U. S. Coast Guard moved books and supplies into appropriate classrooms, set up bulletin boards and helped teachers decorate classrooms, etc.  Through their volunteer service hours, they took a huge weight off the school's teachers and allowed them more time to do other necessary tasks in preparation for the upcoming school year.

Meet Michelle Nunn

Co-Founder and CEO,

HandsOn NetworkCo-Founder and CEO, Hands On Network

Michelle Nunn is the co-founder and

CEO of HandsOn Network. She is the

founding director of HandsOn Atlanta,

a nonprofit organization that helps individuals,families, corporations, and community groups find flexible volunteer opportunities at more than 400 service organizations and schools. HandsOn Atlanta now has 25,000 volunteers who work every day of the year building community and meeting critical needs in schools, parks, senior homes, food banks, pet shelters, low-income neighborhoods, and more. Under her leadership, the organization has grown from a grassroots startup in 1989 to one of the nation's largest community-based volunteer organizations.

HandsOn Network is mobilizing 6.4 million volunteers over the next two years through projects designed to make an immediate, tangible impact on children and education, health and wellness, and the environment. Its nationwide HandsOn Campaign works in partnership with the HandsOn Network Corporate Service Council, an alliance of 29 CEOs and civic leaders mobilizing the corporate workforce to engage in a range of high-impact community projects throughout North America.

Michelle graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Virginia in 1989 with a major in history and a minor in religion. She has studied at Oxford University and in India. She was a Kellogg National Fellow and earned a master's degree in public administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. She currently serves on the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation, and has received a variety of awards -- including recently being named one of the "100 Most Influential Georgians" by Georgia Trend magazine. Michelle resides in Atlanta with her husband, Ron Martin, her son, Vinson, and her daughter, Elizabeth.

Benefits of Volunteering

Let's take a quick look at what some of the recent research tells us about the benefits of volunteering:

Volunteering Makes You Healthier. While healthier people tend to be more likely to volunteer—especially among older adults—the converse may also be true. Numerous medical and other studies demonstrate that volunteering also makes one healthier. Regular volunteering leads to longer life expectancy,higher life satisfaction, lower rates of depression, and greater physical and mental well-being.

Social Capital and Volunteering Lead to Stronger and Safer Communities. Extensive research demonstrates that social capital—whether people volunteer, vote, work with their neighbors, and engage in their community in other ways—is key to understanding whether communities work because social relationships, or the lack of them, matter a great deal. Indeed, places with higher levels of volunteering, and thus social capital,

are likely to have higher educational achievement, better performing governmental institutions, faster economic

growth, and less crime and violence.

Volunteers Are More Generous and Civically Engaged. Volunteers appear to be more likely to also give money, vote, and engage in their community in other ways. 

Volunteers Achieve Meaningful Community Outcomes. A growing number of studies outline how volunteer activities, such as mentoring, produce positive outcomes for youth, greater civic outcomes, and can also be quite cost effective.

Volunteers Contribute to Economic Prosperity. Recent economic research suggests that charitable behaviors such as volunteering and giving may cause greater economic prosperity and even be related to a nation’s gross domestic product.

It is our mission at HandsOn Jacksonville to inspire, equip, and mobilize people to take action that changes the world. Our tag line echoes the words of Mahatma Gandhi as we exhort everyone to “Be the Change—Volunteer!” The remarkable nature of our community is demonstrated in a metric that has been tracked in the JCCI Quality of Life Progress Report for 23 years. Our 2007 rate of adult volunteering in Jacksonville is reported as 65 percent. This figure ranks far beyond the 26.2 percent reported for the nation by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

At HandsOn Jacksonville's annual Celebration of Service event, it is our privilege to celebrate a number of very special people who represent the good work that goes on in our community. The people whose service we highlight have recognized a situation in which change is necessary, taken action to address it, and perhaps gotten out of their comfort zone to do so. They have acted on the impulse to be the change they want to see in their community. Their stories inspire others to action. Each of us holds the tools to effect change. It is up to us to act. Taken together, our actions can and will change our community and, by doing so, we will change our

world.

Judith A. M. Smith, DM

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