“The motive driving senior volunteer service appears to be less altruism than a strong and straightforward desire for structure, purpose, affiliation, growth, and meaning. There is evidence from program evaluations and other research suggesting that older participants derive these benefits from the service experience. Some studies finds, for instance, that participants experience ‘increase self-esteem, renewed feelings of health and vigor, and new satisfying social relationships with peers.” (USA Today Magazine, 1997)
A University of Michigan study showed that people with ‘many social contacts’ have a tendency to live longer than people who are isolated. (The University of Michigan Institute for Social Research, 1998)
Volunteers are an invaluable resource to nonprofit organizations. A 2000 national study on giving and volunteering showed that the volunteer workforce represented the equivalent of over 9 million full-time employees at a value of $239 billion. (Independent Sector, 2002)
