By Cheryl Kortemeier, Executive Director, Corporate Volunteer Council of Atlanta (CVC)
April is Global Volunteer Month. Established in 2020 by international nonprofit, Points of Light, Global Volunteer Month is designed to honor and celebrate volunteers worldwide and to leverage volunteerism to strengthen communities and address global challenges.
According to Points of Light, 85% of companies offer some form of volunteering, and nearly two-thirds of employees say they would stay longer at a company that encourages community engagement. Volunteering is a business strategy; it is retention, morale, and culture in action.
Recognizing Global Volunteer Month gives businesses a chance to show their commitment to their employees, customers, and communities where they operate. For example, employees at Atlanta-based UPS may help a nonprofit design an inventory management program, they may assist Atlanta Habitat for Humanity with a home build, or support MedShare with a medical supply packaging event. Kaiser Permanente employees recently provided an emergency medical response training to Atlanta Public Schools students as part of their Thriving Schools Community Health program. The Corporate Volunteer Council of Atlanta (CVC) often incorporates service into our programs, too. We typically keep it simple, inviting members to take part in activities like packaging treats for seniors in assisted living or collecting food for hungry neighbors. Service activities do not have to be huge to be helpful.
Volunteer recognition is important, too. Celebrating volunteers who show up consistently or who contribute unique skills is great way to acknowledge your appreciation and to inspire others to get involved. Global Volunteer Month is the perfect time to highlight a star volunteer in internal communications or in a company LinkedIn post.
No matter the activity, volunteering fosters team connection, supports leadership development, reminds everyone there’s more to work than the next deadline, and more. In a world that often feels polarized and uncertain, giving back through service offers perspective, stability, and hope to both volunteers and community partners. And celebrating positive stories gives us all a boost.
If your company has roots in Georgia, think about how your employees can take place in Global Volunteer Month. Whether hyper-local or worldwide, volunteering is essential for business. This isn’t just a moment—it’s a movement!
