Volunteer PowerCrew - About Volunteer PowerCrew

Why it matters

"We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give."

~ Winston Churchill

Teenage service is worth $34.3 billion to the U.S. economy. (Independent Sector/Gallup, 1999 value of service)

Youth who volunteer just one hour a week are 50% less likely to abuse drugs, alcohol, cigarettes or engage in destructive behavior. (Search Institute, 1995)

Youth who volunteer are more likely to do well in school, graduate, vote and be philanthropic. (UCLA/Higher Education Research Institute, 1991)

Out of 13.3 million youth, 59.3% volunteer an average of 3.5 hours per week, versus 49% of the adult population volunteering an average of 4.2 hours. (Independent Sector/Gallup, 1996)

74.2% of high school seniors volunteered in 1998. (UCLA/Higher Education Research Institute Annual Freshmen Survey, 1999)

70% of young people ages 15-21 have participated in activities to help strengthen their community at some point in their lives. (Do Something/Princeton Survey Research, 1998)

The value of service carried out on National Youth Service Day exceeded $171 million. (Youth Service America estimates based on Independent Sector value of service, 1999)

Youth who volunteer are three times more likely to volunteer as adults. (Independent Sector/Gallup, 1996)

Teens say the benefits received from volunteering are learning to respect others, learning to be helpful and kind, learning to understand people who are different from them, developing leadership skills, becoming more patient and gaining a better understanding of good citizenship. (Independent Sector/Gallup, 1996)