Boosting Volunteerism City by City

The Obama Administration has brought a new focus on volunteering to the public stage with Obama's United We Serve campaign and the Edward M Kennedy Serve America Act. Groups across the nation have been responding to the call; even Hollywood put its oar in by embedding messages about volunteerism in popular TV shows last week as part of the iParticipate public service broadcasting initiative headed by the Entertainment Industry Foundation.

Now, the Rockefeller Foundation is teaming up with Cities of Service, a bipartisan group of mayors, to disperse $2 million in grants aimed at increasing volunteerism in 10 US cities, according to a Rockefeller press release (PDF).

"During difficult economic times, when it is important for communities to pull together, the Rockefeller Foundation is proud to help America's mayors bring President Obama's call to service to their own cities," said Rockefeller Foundation president Judith Rodin.

The two-year $200,000 grants will allow each awardee city to hire a Chief Service Officer, entrusted by the mayor to develop and enact plans to boost volunteerism. Any city wishing to apply for a grant must first join the Cities of Service coalition, which requires agreeing to participate in a multiyear initiative aimed at increasing volunteerism in the applicant’s city.

Photo courtesy of Tulane Public Relations, via Flickr