Volunteer Maryland Celebrates 25 Years of Service to Maryland Communities

ANNAPOLIS, MD- Volunteer Maryland today announced the celebration of 25 years of service to Maryland communities. Since its inception, Volunteer Maryland has developed over 700 partnerships with nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and schools across Maryland, placing Volunteer Coordinators to help bridge the gap between communities facing critical problems and citizens who want to volunteer to solve those problems. The partnerships have resulted in over 131,000 volunteers mobilized to serve 1,730,000 volunteer hours in communities around the state.

“Volunteer Maryland helps build stronger, healthier, safer neighborhoods by engaging community members in hands-on volunteering. Our members spend eleven months breathing-eating-drinking volunteerism; this type of focus results in lasting change,” said Nicki Fiocco Director of Volunteer Maryland. “Over the past quarter century, the amount of impact VolunteerMaryland AmeriCorps members have had on Maryland communities has rippled through our entire region. Through our unique focus on capacity building, our AmeriCorps members develop programs that continue to have an impact on an organization long after their service has been completed.”

Established in 1992, Volunteer Maryland places Volunteer Coordinators in partner organizations to increase volunteerprogram efficiencies, recruit volunteers, and develop volunteer programs. In 1993, Volunteer Maryland began utilizing funding from the Corporation for National Community Service to recruit AmeriCorps members to serve as VolunteerCoordinators. In the current service year, which runs from August 2017 to July 31, 2018, there are 27 Volunteer Coordinators serving in organizations throughout the state, including two members serving in Volunteer Maryland’s Office as Peer Leaders. To date this year, the Volunteer Coordinators have mobilized 4,166 volunteers to serve 39,444 volunteer hours.

To commemorate their 25th year of service, Volunteer Maryland will host a celebration for past and present VolunteerMaryland members and partners later this year. Additionally, Volunteer Maryland will engage in a social media campaign until August, which will highlight the impact of Volunteer Maryland members throughout the years. The campaign will be featured on Facebook (@VolunteerMaryland), Twitter (@VolunteerMD), and Instagram (volunteer_maryland).