FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 18, 2012
 

Montana Nonprofit Association Celebrates National Volunteer Week

Helena, MT – In recognition of 2012 National Volunteer Week, April 15-21, the Montana Nonprofit Association (MNA) invites Montanans to celebrate the longstanding legacy of volunteerism in Montana.  Whether volunteering for a nonprofit, supporting local events, or coming together informally as neighbors to solve community problems, Montanans are extraordinarily generous with their time and talents.  Volunteering in America reports that 239,468 Montana residents provided a total of 29.6 million hours of service through or for a nonprofit or community organization in 2010 – the equivalent of 14,000 full time employees. “What an asset to our state economy; more importantly, what a measure of our character as Montanans,” MNA Board Chair Jono McKinney said.

National Volunteer Week was started in 1974 to inspire and encourage people to seek out imaginative ways to engage in their communities. Recognizing the central role of volunteers in Montana’s nonprofit sector, MNA offers volunteer resources to nonprofit organizations as well as the public. MNA actively promotes volunteerism through BuildMontana.org, a unique web portal that connects prospective volunteers to opportunities throughout the state.  MNA also encourages Montana nonprofits and other community organizations to regularly post their volunteer opportunities on Build Montana.  According to MNA Executive Director Liz Moore, “Volunteers are a mainstay within nonprofits – especially in Montana where resources are limited and we all pitch in to make things work better and keep our communities strong.  Build Montana is an avenue for Montanans to connect with nonprofits in a meaningful way.” 

Founded in 2001, MNA is a membership organization that promotes a strong nonprofit sector in Montana. MNA achieves its mission through advocacy and public policy, access to affordable products and services, organizational development and training, research and information sharing, and network building. Representing the richness and diversity of Montana’s charitable nonprofit community, MNA’s over 660 nonprofit members address a broad array of missions, come from all four corners of the state and everywhere in between, and range in size from the smallest all-volunteer nonprofits to the largest organizations in Montana. For more information about MNA, visit www.mtnonprofit.org.

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