Did you hear the one about the woman, the priest, two ministers and a rabbi?
Sounds like the lead-in for a joke, doesn’t it?
Here’s the real story. It was a woman, a priest, two ministers and a rabbi who founded the nation’s very first United Way campaign in Denver, back in 1887. They raised $21,000 for local charities that year.
Volunteering is an American tradition. Ben Franklin founded the first volunteer fire department in Philadelphia back in 1736. The American Red Cross dates to 1881.
Where would our communities be without volunteers?
Last year 63 million Americans volunteered more than 8 million hours, worth an estimated $173 billion in services to charitable organizations. That’s a lot of free labor!
I recently had the opportunity to talk to a group of volunteer coordinators at the Metro United Way building. I shared with them my appreciation for the work they do and the work of the hundreds of volunteers who give of their time and energy to help our communities.
I also told them that baby boomers nearing retirement and adults over the age of 65 are among the nation’s most active volunteers. In fact, according to the Corporation for National and Community Service, the percentage of volunteers who donate more than 100 hours per year is highest among those age 65 and older.
As I work with retirees, I stress to them the importance of volunteering; not just to help the agencies who need their labor, but for the personal benefits the volunteer receives. Clinical studies show that those who volunteer just two hours a week enjoy better physical and mental health. Volunteering adds social structure and meaning to life. And studies show that people who do this add, on average, five years to their lives.
Volunteering is important. But working with an agency that meets your needs is even more important. Do you want hands-on activity, one-on-one mentoring, board work or fund-raising?
At Third Wind, one of our missions is to place our members in an appropriate environment; one that meets their needs and gives them the fulfillment they desire.
*** Bill Ronay is President of Third Wind, a retirement resource network that provides personalized, comprehensive information, guidance and resources to help people make a successful transition into retirement. Third Wind uses a holistic approach to help adults facing retirement discover new opportunities and purpose as they make the transition into the third phase of life; their Third Wind.
You can contact Bill at 502 895-3693 or go to mythirdwind.com for more information.
