Twin Cities #1 in Volunteering! Again!

In an article in the Star Tribune earlier last week, we have more people volunteering than any other metro area in the nation! More than 900,000 metro residents in city and suburb volunteered an average 44 hours in one year in 2009. In the rest of the state, more than 1.5 million volunteered totaling 171 million hours which is the third-highest ranking in the nation!

According to Patrick Corvington, CEO of the Corporation of National and Community Service, Minnesota has two things that really push for service: a vibrant community spirit and a strong nonprofit sector that's prepared to funnel volunteer energy. Studies show that home ownership also is a contributing factor. Home ownership increases volunteer rates and the Twin Cities have nearly 74% of home owners compared to the nation's 67%.

For years, Minnesota has ranked near the top of the charts in volunteering, voting and other forms of "civic engagement." In fact, the Twin Cities has topped this survey for the past four years! Can you say "4-Peat?!" And figures may be higher because the survey only tracked "formal volunteers," meaning those who work at agencies and nonprofits.

The top four causes that Minnesotans volunteer their hours for are: food for the disadvantaged, fundraising, teaching and "general labor." Roughly a third donate their time to religious organizations or schools. And the Twin Cities' civic spirit crossed all age groups from seniors to people in their twenties and especially Baby Boomers who 40% were reported to have volunteered in their community. "The spirit of volunteerism is alive and well in the Twin Cities," said Corvington.

Nationally, voluneerism is on the rise- more than 63 million Americans over the age of 16 volunteered at least once in 2009, which is a 1.6 million increase.

So the MRC says congrats and big thanks to all of you out there who have dontated your time to make your community a better place!

To read more about the survey, check out the Star Tribune article below:
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/96390394.html?page=1&c=y