FIRST ANNUAL FAMILY VOLUNTEER DAY

On May 1 2010, more than 230 volunteers from 62 local families worked to benefit 9 area agencies during the first annual United Way Family Volunteer Day.  The event was sponsored by Rich Products.

Lynn Domachowski, a partner with Domachowski Kempisty & Salvatore; her husband Terry; and their children, Olivia and Michael, who both attend Williamsville East High School, were the volunteer chair family for the event. “Volunteering as a family is so important because it allows our family to give back to the community and share the experience together,” Lynn said.  ”It shows our children what a difference we can all make in each other's lives."

Projects included facility maintenance and landscaping, community beautification and clean-up, and other tasks that will help agencies to keep their resources focused on delivering services to people in need.   “One of the best ways to understand and respond to the needs in our community is to volunteer, and Family Volunteer Day offers parents and their kids a way to do that together,” said Michael Weiner, United Way president.  “It is wonderful to see so many families sharing the legacy of volunteering with their children.”

In total, our Family Volunteer Day volunteers donated 690 hours, providing nearly $15,000 in free labor to participating agencies.  We have already heard from many families that they can’t wait to do it again.  Mary Poluvniak from the McGuire Group said, “My sister Kim, brother Jim & myself had a great time volunteering at Cradle Beach!  We plan on going back on our own & have already talked about volunteering again for the United Way family day next year.”

Our sincerest thanks to Rich Products, the Domachowski family, and all of our family volunteers for making the event a big success!

Due to the success of Family Volunteer Day, we will be making it an annual event!

Family volunteering can benefit businesses through:

• Improved morale and positive attitudes among employees
• Reinforcing teamwork and breaking down barriers
• Adding an extra dimension of sharing, caring and creating  sense of community among employees
• Quality time for families through learning opportunities and positive role modeling for children
• Skill development in leadership, problem-solving, public speaking and improved organizational skills
• Demonstration of company commitment to the communities in which they do business

Why Children Should Volunteer:

Kids feel great and have fun when they volunteer. Here are other reasons why children should volunteer:

1. Enhances Development. Volunteering can benefit a child’s psychological, social and intellectual development. Volunteering increases self-esteem, responsibility and an interest in learning and helps children develop new social skills. It also provides opportunities to apply newly learned material.
2. Promotes a Healthy Lifestyle and Choices -- Children who volunteer are less likely to become involved in at-risk behaviors.
3. Teaches Social Responsibility – Volunteering helps children develop empathy and learn that one person can make a difference.
4. Creates a lifelong ethic of service. Individuals who volunteer as a child or who observed their parents volunteering have a much higher probability of being a volunteer in their adult years.
5. Improves the community. Volunteer activities are essential for advancing the common good, and children can be part of the change.