Most of all, I enjoy being a community volunteer with several nonprofits and initiatives -- and sharing about opportunities! Given my experiences in volunteering and servant leadership, I am shifting the focus of this page toward sharing information that may encourage others to learn about civic activities as well as volunteer and philanthropic opportunities. Why Volunteer: Did you know t
hat volunteer service has tangible economic benefits for communities — and that Iowa ranks near the top in the US for volunteerism? According to the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service, “Volunteer Iowa State Priorities and Impact 2021” of 01/28/2021:
Community Volunteerism
* Over 90,000 Iowans volunteer each year in high quality programs and volunteer opportunities backed by Volunteer Iowa.
* Annually, over 1 million Iowa volunteers provide 56.2 million hours of service worth $1.3 billion to Iowa charities and governmental entities.
* Our volunteer rate of 41.5% ranks 4th highest in the country. (Source: https://www.volunteeriowa.org/document/volunteer-iowa-state-priorities-and-impact-2021)
And there are more terrific benefits of volunteer service for individual volunteers, nonprofits, and communities. Volunteerism can also help achieve other goals related to the economy and the health and wellbeing of Iowans. For example,
• Individuals who volunteer tend to live longer and healthier lives.
• Volunteers tend to have a higher likelihood of finding a job after being out of work than non-volunteers.
• Quality mentoring relationships are a proven strategy for increasing academic achievement and school attendance. So there are many, many reasons to volunteer! With this page, I'll seek to encourage volunteer service, share opportunities for giving back, and post information about civic engagement as well as community service and philanthropy. My volunteer roles and community background: Volunteering as a fun, rewarding activity goes back many years for me. It’s become what I do with much, if not most, of my time! I’m not a professional in the field of volunteer service — there are many career opportunities and certifications, coursework programs that can open the doors to exciting possibilities for anyone interested! Instead, I gradually found myself adding to my volunteer activities over time as groups partnered with others, and missions overlapped. Examples:
As a council member, I served on the boards of Bravo Greater Des Moines, Ankeny Community Engagement Advisory Council, and as the city council representative to the Uptown - Ankeny Association. Personal volunteering has included service as chairperson of the steering committee for the creation of Ankeny Miracle Park/Miracle League Field and Playground, and working with others to gain Ankeny’s designation as a Home Base Iowa community. Currently, I volunteer with the Ankeny Miracle League program and the Ankeny BackPack (Buddies) Program; as a board member of Ankeny Dollars for Scholars, Project Fresh Start, and Ankeny Kiwanis Charitable Foundation; as president of Ankeny Alumni Association, chairperson of Ankeny Community Foundation, past president of Ankeny Kiwanis Club, and a founding committee member of 100 Women Who Care - Ankeny. My second term as a commissioner with the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service/Volunteer Iowa will end in June 2022. Recognitions include being named the Ankeny Area Chamber of Commerce's 2015 Outstanding Citizen of the Year.
