Utah pledges to hold No. 1 spot in volunteerism

ST. GEORGE – In 2015, Utahns donated more volunteer hours than any other state, marking the 10th straight year Utah has been recognized as No. 1 in the nation for volunteerism.

Gov. Gary Herbert announced Monday a new campaign to ensure those volunteer numbers continue to rise.Pledge-10-graphic

To celebrate the Corporation for National and Community Service announcement that Utah ranked first in the United States for volunteerism, Gov. Gary Herbert kicked off the 2016 Pledge10 campaign.

The campaign asks Utahns to serve 10 people, volunteer with co-workers 10 times or serve 10 hours at a charity organization in the upcoming year.

“Your long tradition of service makes Utah what it is,” Gov. Herbert said. “We are proud of our culture of caring for one another. Where government would otherwise have to step in or grow, Utah’s exceptional army of volunteers step up to fill the need.”

Utahns put in enough volunteer hours every to fill 93,000 full-time job positions, according to the Corporation for National and Community Service – that’s $4.5 billion in economic contributions.

The average Utahn donates 92 hours of service per year, which is twice the average of the No. 2 state in the nation.

“We’d like you to join us in celebrating Utah’s continued commitment to service by joining Pledge10 to volunteer beyond what you’re already doing in your community in 2016,” the Pledge 10 campaign site reads. “We want to make this our biggest and best year of service yet as we reach out to one another, do a little bit of good, and watch the world change.”

VCLAHere are some examples of ways you can Pledge10:

  • As a family, serve 10 neighbors by shoveling their driveway, making them a treat or fixing a fence
  • As a family, serve 10 aging adults by visiting a care facility or elderly neighbor
  • As a faith-based or community organization, gather 10 people to complete a service project together
  • As a faith-based or community organization, plant at least 10 trees together
  • As a school, adopt 10 organizations to benefit throughout the year
  • As a class, collect 10 pounds of clothing or food per month to donate to food banks and/or homeless shelters
  • As a company, commit 10 employees to volunteer for a particular organization or cause during the year
  • As a company, offer employees 10 hours per quarter to volunteer for an organization of their choice
  • As an individual, commit to volunteer for an organization at least 10 times throughout the year
  • As an individual, challenge 10 people to volunteer with you or host a competition to see who can be the first to volunteer 10 times in 2016

Volunteers are invited to share their service stories on social media, using the hashtag: #Pledge10Utah.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2015, all rights reserved.

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7 Comments

  • Terry December 28, 2015 at 6:37 pm

    Number 1 in Prescription Pain Med ABUSE as well. Maybe that’s why hey Volunteer??

  • .... December 28, 2015 at 7:53 pm

    and number one in suicide by LDS

  • STUPID COMMENTERS December 28, 2015 at 8:46 pm

    to be fair, church callings are not volunteer. if u turn them down u are shamed and shunned. so is UT actually 1st? doubtful..

    • .... December 28, 2015 at 10:42 pm

      hey STUPID give us another one of your LDS commentaries…I could always use another laugh ! have a nice day STUPID

    • Terry December 29, 2015 at 8:40 am

      So True

  • Terry December 29, 2015 at 8:52 am

    Be Number 1 in providing Medical Cannibus and Freedom From This Oppression and Prohibition????

  • Terry December 29, 2015 at 5:01 pm

    Get use to this Kimberly Scott. Utah is not so mormon anymore, n people that are or were are Slowly peeling off the layers. Nothin Personal, it’s your job. Well written article

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