88,000 VA Volunteers Recognized During National Volunteer Week

WASHINGTON – More than 88,000 volunteers at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities – who worked 12.5 million hours last year – are being recognized across the country in conjunction with National Volunteer Week, April 15-21.

"Volunteers are one of VA’s most valuable assets, sharing the same spirit of compassion and dedication as our employees in helping our veteran patients," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson. "The theme of this year’s volunteer week, ‘Inspire by Example,’ expresses exactly what these volunteers do, and I hope their example will encourage even more people to give of their time at local VA facilities helping those who have defended our nation."

VA has the largest volunteer program in the government and one of the largest in the country. Using a formula developed by a coalition representing hundreds of charities and non-profits, it is estimated that in 2006, VA would have needed more than 6,000 full-time employees to replace the time donated by volunteers. VA estimates the time volunteered to VA equates to nearly $225 million annually. In addition, VA volunteers and their organizations contributed an estimated $54 million in gifts and donations last year.

More than 350 national and community organizations support VA’s Voluntary Service program, organized in 1946.

Nicholson traveled to Baltimore on Monday to present the President’s Volunteer Service Lifetime Achievement Award to Clifford Stoffel, a veteran who contributed more than 4,000 hours of service in the VA Maryland Health Care System as a volunteer with the Disabled American Veterans transportation network at the Glen Burnie, Md., VA Outpatient Clinic. Nicholson also gave awards to other volunteers who have served at the Baltimore VA Rehabilitation and Extended Care Center and regional outpatient clinics.

For several years, President Bush has proclaimed National Volunteer Week as a time to thank volunteers for their service and to call the public's attention to what volunteers can do to improve communities. National Volunteer Week is sponsored by the Points of Light Foundation.

For more information on how to volunteer at a VA facility, contact your local VA hospital or visit www.va.gov.

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