Challenge encourages employer supported volunteering
DES MOINES – Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds on Monday announced the launch of Give Back Iowa, a six week challenge running from April 14-May 31 to engage Iowans in employer supported volunteering.
“Give Back Iowa complements my ‘Call to Service’ initiative to increase the number of Iowans that are volunteering, as well as the number of hours they serve to 50 hours a year to make Iowa a leader in volunteerism nationwide,” said Branstad.
Iowa employers are invited to participate in the Give Back Iowa Challenge to encourage their employees to volunteer and report their volunteer hours. Employers with the highest average number of volunteer hours per employee will be recognized with a visit by the governor or lieutenant governor to their workplace.
Volunteering has not only a significant impact on meeting community needs, but employer supported volunteering leads to improved employee engagement, organizational commitment, job satisfaction and retention, which can improve business outcomes, research shows.
“As the Governor and I look to increase employer volunteerism in Iowa, we are asking for the support of employers across the state. We believe Iowa should strive to be the leader in volunteering,” said Reynolds. “Service is a key ingredient for meeting Iowa’s goals for education, job creation, and health.”
The launch of Give Back Iowa aligns with National Volunteer Week, April 12-18, a program of Points of Light, which is about taking action and encouraging individuals and their respective communities to demonstrate their collective power to make a difference.
Employers can register at any time during the challenge. Employers who have already registered include:
- Alliant Energy
- Bankers Trust
- Casey’s General Stores, Inc.
- Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa
- Des Moines University
- Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines
- Fifth Judicial District, Department of Correctional Services
- Hy-Vee, Inc.
- Iowa Bankers Association
- Iowa Board of Educational Examiners
- Iowa Department of Corrections
- Iowa Department of Public Health
- Iowa Division of Banking
- Iowa Economic Development Authority
- Iowa Finance Authority
- Iowa Veterans Home
- Midwest Heritage Bank
- Riverside Casino & Golf Resort
- U.S. Cellular
- Vermeer Corporation
- Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield
- Wells Enterprises, Inc.
- Wells Fargo
- West Music Company
Complete information and resources on how to participate and find volunteer opportunities are provided in the Give Back Iowa toolkit available at www.volunteeriowa.org/employers.
About the ICVS (or Volunteer Iowa): The Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service and its partner agencies work with organizations and individuals on three main fronts. The first is to help agencies develop quality programs that use service as a strategy to fulfill their missions and address Iowa’s greatest areas of need. The second is to help engage Iowans in their communities by promoting service and expanding the volunteer base. Finally, the third area of work is to connect individuals with appropriate service opportunities by building the volunteer infrastructure. More information is available at www.volunteeriowa.org.
