April 12-18, 2015
It’s April, and that means National Volunteer Week is almost here! For the last 40 years, this nationwide event has brought communities and organizations together to recognize and celebrate the achievements of the remarkable people who selflessly volunteer their time to make their community a better place. First established in 1974, National Volunteer Week is run by Points of Light, the world’s largest volunteer organization. This weeklong event continues to grow each year, inspiring thousands of events across the country.
National Volunteer Week is a time when we should all remember that volunteers are much more than free labor – they are the backbone of all nonprofit organizations. Without volunteers, our organizations’ missions would never be realized. Recognizing and thanking our volunteers is always important, and National Volunteer Week is the perfect time to do just that.
Here on Maui, the efforts of volunteers across the island have impacted the community in countless ways. Thanks to their contributions, community gardens flourish, food banks run smoothly, beaches are kept clean, and our small island remains a beautiful place to live. Our local volunteers show us that extraordinary things are possible when we work together toward a common goal.
In honor of this year’s National Volunteer Week, we are holding our annual Volunteer Hero Program event, where we will celebrate volunteerism on Maui, and honor 18 exceptional volunteers who have been nominated by the community for their outstanding service. The event will take place on April 16th where all Volunteer Heroes will receive a certificate of appreciation, lei and a recognition token from the County of Maui Volunteer Center.
