Once again, Utah comes in No. 1 in volunteering

Once again, Utah comes in No. 1 in volunteering
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 06/15/2010 04:02:31 PM MDT

Utah has topped the nation in volunteering for the fifth year in a row, with the nation's highest rate of residents giving back to their communities.

With participation at 44.2 percent of adults, Utah far exceeds the national average of 22.8 percent.

"If you think about what attracts companies to Utah ... they feel this spirit," said Spencer Eccles, executive director of the governor's Office of Economic Development.

State and local leaders gathered Tuesday at the capitol to announce the ranking, which comes from the 2010 Volunteering in America report. Statewide, an estimated 906,000 Utahns volunteered 200 million hours in 2009.

Residents ages 55 to 64 most frequently volunteer.

Among mid-size cities, Provo had the highest volunteering rate nationwide, with 63.6 percent participation. "Volunteering is part of who we are," said Provo Mayor John Curtis.

Volunteering in Utah comes in all forms, from giving tours at The Living Planet Aquarium in Sandy to teenagers growing food to give to the poor through Utah G.A.R.D.E.N.S. The recent Chevron oil spill, which sent 33,000 gallons into Red Butte Creek, inspired citizens to contact Salt Lake City about how they could help.

"A large majority are asking how they can help the birds," said Karen Hale, the communications director. "We are lucky to have great communities here."

The Utah Commission on Volunteers is challenging citizens of all ages to volunteer in its Summer of Service campaign, competing for lunch with Lt. Gov. Greg Bell. And by working for 50 to 100 hours, depending on age group, participants can earn a Presidential Service Award.

In a Summer of Service kick-off last weekend, volunteers did landscaping at Provo's North Park and dug out grass from around sycamore and ash trees.

Last year, 13-year-old Amber Barron of Riverton won her age category in the state's competition, logging 64 hours of service at the Girl Scouts' three-day Camporee and setting up a blog for a camp held in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

This summer, she has been selected as a delegate for the Girl Scouts of Utah, and also will serve as a program aide for A Journey to The Past, a three-day camp that teaches children about their Utah heritage.

"I am hoping to be the top volunteer in [my] age group," she said. "I am hoping to log over 100 hours this year."

In Murray, the Youth Chamber of Commerce is helping children as young as 3 become more active in their community, said program director Sheri Van Bibber. While a teenager may have a what's-in-it-for-me mentality, she said, "if we start with them younger, we can reverse that train of thought."

Murray youth helped dig mud out of a flooded apartment building carport last week; this summer, they will help with projects from cleaning up the Jordan River to painting faces at the town's Fourth of July parade.

Despite Utah's success, Bell reminded the crowd Tuesday the state can't stop giving back. It's necessary to continue to inspire each other, he said. "We know there is much work to be done," he said.

Tribune reporter Samuel Weigley contributed to this report.