First Lady Sally Ganem & National Volunteer CEO Promote Hiring Volunteers Initiative

(Lincoln, Neb.)   Nebraska’s First Lady Sally Ganem is teaming up with Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) CEO Wendy Spencer to raise awareness about volunteering. First Lady Ganem and Spencer are promoting hiring volunteers when companies and organizations are looking to expand their workforce or have jobs available through the Employers of National Service initiative.
“Volunteering is a way of life for Nebraskans, because we care about our neighbors and communities,” said First Lady Ganem. “When companies are looking to hire, it make sense to give serious consideration to those who know the organization and have invested time into its mission and work.”
“National service and volunteering develops essential skills and experiences that makes service participants valuable assets for organizations seeking great employees,” said Spencer. “We are honored that companies and organizations in Nebraska and across the country are recognizing that national service alumni are strong leaders who are motivated, flexible, innovative, and outcome-oriented.”
The Employers of National Service initiative works with employers from private, public, and nonprofit sectors to create recruitment, hiring, and advancement opportunities for individuals who served in AmeriCorps or the Peace Corps. The initiative recognizes the unique and transferable skills that participants develop during service. Through this effort, employers will have new access to a dedicated, highly qualified and mission‐oriented pool of potential employees and volunteers will have additional opportunities to apply their skills in the workplace.
The First Lady serves as the honorary Chair of ServeNebraska, the Nebraska Volunteer Service Commission that coordinates and supports community involvement by Nebraskans. Additionally, every year, Gov. Heineman and First Lady Ganem serve as Champions of ServeNebraska Week.
Nebraskans have a rich tradition of volunteering. Nebraska ranks 5th in volunteerism among the 50 states and Washington, D.C. The Governor and First Lady encourage Nebraskans with the flexibility to volunteer at any time or place in all 93 counties.
In 2014, more than 2,900 people of all ages and backgrounds are helping to meet local needs, strengthen communities, and increase civic engagement through national service in Nebraska. Serving at more than  620 locations throughout the state, volunteers tutor and mentor children, support veterans and military families, provide health services, restore the environment, respond to disasters, increase economic opportunity, and recruit and manage volunteers.
Established in 1993, the CNCS is a federal agency that engages more than 5 million Americans in service through its core programs - Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and the Social Innovation Fund. As the nation’s largest grant maker for service and volunteering, CNCS works to strengthen America’s nonprofit sector and addressing our nation’s challenges through service. CNCS aims to harnesses America’s most powerful resource – the energy and talents of our citizens – to solve problems.