New Mexico Business Weekly - Tuesday, June 15, 2010

The number of Americans volunteering in 2009 jumped by 1.6 million, the biggest increase in six years, according to the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Its annual Volunteering in America report says 63.4 million Americans volunteered through a formal organization last year, giving more than 8.1 billion hours of volunteer time worth an estimated $169 billion.

"Americans have responded to tough economic times by volunteering in big numbers," said CNCS CEO Patrick Corvington. "What we're seeing is the depth of the American spirit and generosity at its best."

New Mexico was ranked 29th among the 50 states and Washington, D.C., for percentage of residents that volunteer, at 26.8 percent. The report states that New Mexico has 408,000 volunteers and contributes 50.8 million hours of service, equalling 33.4 hours per resident.

The data, based on an average from 2007 to 2009, states that New Mexico has contributed $1.1 billion of volunteer service. The full report is online.

"We applaud the efforts of New Mexico’s many volunteers," Greg Webb, executive director of the New Mexico Commission for Community Volunteerism in Albuquerque said.

"This report outlines the data, however the true success lies in the thousands of lives touched by volunteers across our state on a daily basis, particularly given the economic challenges faced by our residents," he said.

Webb said it is often volunteers who fill in the gaps in services ranging from mentoring and keeping after school and summer programs operating for New Mexico kids.

Utah was the top volunteer state for the fifth consecutive year, with a volunteer rate of 44.2 percent. Iowa was next at 37.8 percent, followed by Minnesota at 37.5 percent, Nebraska at 37.4 percent and Alaska at 37.3 percent.

Minneapolis, Portland, Ore., Salt Lake City, Seattle and Oklahoma City were the top metro areas for volunteers.

The report also says women volunteered more than men and working mothers had the highest volunteer rates.

Volunteering among African Americans increased more than any other group.