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VOLUNTEER Hampton Roads:  Growing Up with the Region

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world;

indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” ‑‑ Margaret Meade

In 1957, a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens never doubted that they could change --  well, if not the world, at least their community.  And so a pilot program of the Junior League of Norfolk-Virginia Beach, called the Volunteer Service Bureau, was launched.

Fifty years later, under the name VOLUNTEER Hampton Roads, a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens is still changing the community for the better.  From modest beginnings as a traditional volunteer clearinghouse, we have evolved into a full-service management support organization for the nonprofit sector.

 Though our services have expanded, we have never wavered from the basic mission:  to strengthen nonprofits through training and volunteerism so that as a collective force, we can make our community a better place for everyone.  

 Our First 50 Years

To accomplish our mission most effectively, we have organized our services into three key areas:  

• Nonprofit Training

• Corporate Programming

• Volunteerism

Nonprofit Training -- As the nonprofit resource center in South Hampton Roads, we strive to strengthen the nonprofit sector by increasing its capacity to deliver services and operate efficiently. Competition for funding in the nonprofit world has intensified.  Charitable organizations have learned that they can set themselves apart by operating more like a business, with solid governance, leadership, infrastructure, and strategies. 

Our new Nonprofit Leadership Development Center enables these organizations to improve their effectiveness and build their capacity through comprehensive, realistic training programs including:

• Nonprofit Resource Training Series

• Volunteer Management Training Series

• Nonprofit Board Governance Training

• Hampton Roads Institute for Nonprofit Leadership Annual Conference

• Nonprofit Resource Library

Corporate Programming -- Savvy businesses, on the other hand, have discovered how workplace volunteer programs help them become good corporate citizens while building stronger work teams. To that end, we established the Hampton Roads Corporate Volunteer Council.  Companies represented on the council collaborate on projects such as back-to-school drives, career fairs, and team volunteer projects.  Through the council, we help companies give back to the community while also building leadership skills and teamwork at the workplace.

In 2000, our Hampton Roads Corporate Volunteer Council undertook its first major project, building the KidsPort playground. The Portsmouth playground-build brought together businesses, nonprofits, military and municipalities to create a safe place for children to play and neighbors to gather. Today KidsPort is a testament to the fact that engaging volunteers can turn a vision into a reality.   Programs include:

• Hampton Roads Corporate Volunteer Council

• Teamworks

 Volunteerism -- Personal volunteerism also has changed over the years, with a growing demand today for family-friendly, one-day volunteer events.  Thus, our Seasons of Service Days, a program that engages between 100 and 600 volunteers at each one-day project meets specific community needs:

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in January, a mentoring project that has inspired adults and youth to honor Dr. King’s legacy of service

• National & Global Youth Service Day in April, which demonstrates the power of youth serving others

• Family Volunteer Day in November, which empowers volunteer families to provide food for families in crisis living in area shelters

 The Hands On Monthly Project Calendar on our web site makes it easy for volunteers to research one-day projects and sign up for them online. The Hands On calendar gives volunteers access to multiple opportunities while mobilizing eager volunteers to help nonprofits.

 The Next 50 Years

To secure our future and respond effectively to the evolving nonprofit sector, we have launched a 50th Anniversary Campaign to raise at least $1 million.  These funds will enable us to keep delivering critical services, training, and resources to nonprofits.  Funds raised through this campaign will help:

• Expand the Nonprofit Leadership Development Center 

• Make our programs and services more accessible to nonprofits, volunteers and community stakeholders

• Secure our financial future with growth capital

 That little pilot program created a half-century ago worked out pretty well, wouldn’t you say?

With your support, the efforts of that small group of thoughtful, committed citizens from 1957 will continue to thrive for another 50 years.