April 13, 2017
Written by Neil Hanbury, AmeriCorps United Way Volunteer Engagement Coordinator
In the summer of 2016 I found myself, like many college seniors, slightly oblivious when it came to plans for the future. For many students, this sense of uncertainty can be quite overwhelming. How, after all, is one supposed to demonstrate their expertise and enhance their skills without an opportunity to do so?
Thankfully, I was given that chance by AmeriCorps and United Way. As part of the Volunteer Engagement team, I knew that I was planting seeds for something bigger and better. This was evident when considering the countless AmeriCorps members who planted seeds before me; their work has now grown into something meaningful, something worthy of recognition.
On Tuesday, April 4, ManpowerGroup held the annual Mayor and County Recognition Day for National Service. This annual event is celebrated in countless cities across the country. More than 4,500 local leaders give recognition to Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS) service members including Marshfield Clinic AmeriCorps, SeniorCorps, City Year and College Possible.
Many influential figures spoke at the event including Mayor Tom Barrett and a representative for Chris Abele’s office. A message continuously stressed throughout the morning was the tremendous benefit that AmeriCorps and CNCS provide to the communities they serve. In fact, for every dollar accorded to CNCS there are four dollars of public investment generated as a result.
While members were praised for their strong social and public service, a mutual benefit between host sites and members was also highlighted. For example, an AmeriCorps position allows individuals to obtain valuable experience in an anticipated career field and to set up the building blocks for individual professionalism. Likewise, a host site like United Way benefits greatly by having a qualified individual perform functions in a similar capacity to an official employee, using only a fraction of the monetary resources of a full-time employee.
Thanks to United Way’s AmeriCorps position, I have been successful in recruiting over 200 new volunteers for a variety of quality of life and educational initiatives. This has included providing over 400 impoverished individuals with life-saving social services, providing thousands of students with free books, as well as dozens of children in our United Way Community Schools who are now receiving one-on-one tutoring services.
I found this day of recognition to be an exceptionally rewarding due to the outpouring of validation and support by public figures. Not many of my peers can say that they have been recognized directly by the Mayor for the work they’re doing. I felt a strong sense of accomplishment, and listening to the various speakers enhanced my understanding of how essential CNCS programs are to so many communities across the nation.
Stay tuned to hear more about how AmeriCorps and United Way support volunteerism in our region!
Learn more about Neil Hanbury, United Way AmeriCorps member
Help Neil and United Way Give Away Free Books to Students in Waukesha County