Expo Exhibitor (Volunteerism)

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Get Involved

How will you lead, inspire, and change the world … again.

Your volunteer potential has never been stronger and the need has never been greater. You have the power to leave a lasting legacy through service to others, and together we can make a positive impact in your neighborhood and the entire nation.

“We [boomers] will either be remembered as history’s largest generation or its greatest.”

—Ken Dychtwald, Author

How will you lead, inspire, and change the world … again. The nation’s nonprofits and volunteer organizations need your talents and energy more than ever. There are many opportunities that match your skills, interest, and availability. Use the volunteer search box on our site to find an opportunity that is right for you.

Recent U.S. tragedies such as Hurricane Katrina have demonstrated the power and impact that volunteers have in making a quick and sustainable difference in the lives of people victimized by such life-altering events. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 30 percent of America's baby boomers volunteered their time in 2004, up from 25 percent just two years earlier.

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The time for boomers to get involved is now. Volunteering one's time can be fulfilling in so many ways and can make a difference in a non-profit or community-based organization, a group of people, or the life of an individual. Fostering community involvement among this group is key to addressing a wide range of pressing social issues -- from long-term care for older adults to tutoring and mentoring disadvantaged youth.

"Get Involved" is a national awareness and recruitment campaign aimed at the nation’s 77 million baby boomers. Launched in December 2005 by the Corporation for National and Community Service, in collaboration with America’s nonprofit community and private-sector organizations that share a commitment to civic responsibility.

Call toll-free 1-800-424-8867 or visit our website — to find volunteer and community service opportunities that best fit your needs and experience.

Health Benefits of Volunteering

“People who do volunteer work are much less likely to suffer illness. The close interpersonal relationships and community involvement that occur with volunteer service are tailor-made to enhance the healing process.”

—The Healing Power of Service by Edward V. Brown

Volunteering helps to rebuild communities and solve serious social problems. And, according to research, it can also improve your physical and mental health!

• Volunteer work improves the well being of individual volunteers because it enhances social support networks. People with strong social support networks have lower premature death rates, less heart disease, and fewer health risk factors. (Fact Sheet: Volunteering as a Vehicle for Social Support and Life Satisfaction, Public Health Agency of Canada)
• Volunteering can improve self-esteem, reduce heart rates and blood pressure, increase endorphin production, enhance immune systems, buffer the impact of stress, and combat social isolation. (Research Summary: Graff, L. (1991). Volunteer for the Health of It, Etobicoke, Ontario: Volunteer Ontario.)
• Volunteering lowers the risk of physical ill health because it boosts the social psychological factors that healthy people have. (The Effects of Volunteering on the Volunteer, John Wilson and Marc Musik, 62 Law & Contemp. Probs., Autumn 1999)
• Medical and scientific documentation supports that volunteering results in a heightened sense of well being, improves insomnia, strengthens the immune system, and hastens surgery recovery time. (The Healing Power of Doing Good, Allan Luks & Peggy Payne)
• Volunteering puts people into highly social situations, increasing the opportunity for close interpersonal relationships and strengthening a sense of identity. (Peer Counseling Perspectives, April 2003 Survival News, Mary Lynn Hemphill, “Volunteer For Your Health”)

Volunteering also offers numerous health benefits specific to older adults.

• Volunteering gives older adults an opportunity to participate in fulfilling activities, which can make a difference in the lives of others.
• Helping to better situations for others contributes to healthy communities. Older adult volunteers feel a sense of community inclusion which has a positive impact on their health and overall well being.
• Volunteer activities help older adults improve self confidence and self esteem, which helps reduce blood pressure and improves immune function.
• Volunteer activities help older adults form interpersonal ties and develop social networks. Like family and friends, these networks act as a buffer against stress and illness.
• Older adult volunteers live longer than non-volunteers. Studies report that engaging in regular volunteer work increases life expectancy because social interaction improves quality of life.

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The Corporation for National and Community Service was formed to engage Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service to meet community needs. Each year, more than 1.5 million individuals of all ages and backgrounds help meet local needs through a wide array of service opportunities. These include projects in education, the environment, public safety, homeland security and other critical areas through the Corporation's three major programs: Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America.