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VA Healthcare Network Upstate New York - VISN 2
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VA Volunteers Produce Record $50 Million in Donations
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Donations from volunteers at
VA facilities nationwide reached a
record $50.5 million in 2005, and
the projected dollar value of work
performed by volunteers totalled
nearly $235 million.
Laura Balun, Director of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Voluntary
Service office (VAVS) states,
“Volunteer services support almost
every service in medical centers,
either in cash or item donations, and
you cannot really put a price on the
morale boost that volunteers provide
through their work.”
Balun said the combined donations
and hourly value of services from independent
contributions exceeded VA staff costs by more than $45 million
in 2005.
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VAVS was founded in 1946
and is one of the largest centralized
volunteer programs in the federal
government. More than 350
organizations support VAVS, and
volunteers have provided more than
676 million hours of service since
1946.
Each Veterans Integrated Service
Network (VISN) has a liaison and
VAVS professional staff at each
facility to work in the communities
and encourage volunteerism. The staff
also works to register volunteers and
ensure they receive needed training.
Balun said the overall increase
in donations of cash and items
and the value of services provided
can be attributed to the improved
computerization of the office. She
explained that VAVS directors in each
area have a data base of contributors
that is immediately available and
can be used to generate important
correspondence such as providing
immediate thank you letters in
response to anyone who has donated,
which, in turn, helps lead to more
donations and contributions.
Balun said the 94,148 active
VAVS volunteers worked a |
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Network 2 Achievements:
We exceeded the target for baby
boomer recruitment by 100
Donation totals are about
$367,000 more than the
previous year
Total volunteer hours are up
over last year (11,000 hours)
New York State value for a
volunteer hour is now $22.77.
Given our Network total
volunteer hours of 471,389, this
equates to $10.7 million of labor
assistance.
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total of 13,016,548 hours. The FY 2005 total
VAVS hours equate to 6,264 full time
equivalent (FTEE) positions.
Volunteers comprise a critical part
of the services offered to veterans. They
come from all walks of life and they can
volunteer in a variety of ways to provide
service to veterans. VA Voluntary staff
is available to tailor a program for
a company in its community; design
volunteer opportunities for individuals
and groups; and utilize a person’s skills
in rewarding ways. |
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Spring 2007
Voluntary News
Director's Message |
Spotlight VSO
Albany |
Bath |
Canandaigua |
Syracuse |
Western New York
Voluntary Staff
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| Reviewed/Updated Date: February 6, 2008 |
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