U of A Extension Service honored for 2.8 million hours volunteer service

October 1, 2014

Fast facts

Cooperative Extension Service reports more than 2.8 million volunteer hours
More than 500,000 volunteers statewide contributed 16.5 million volunteer hours, according to report

(175 words)

LITTLE ROCK – After years as runner up for the number of volunteer hours in a year, the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service claimed the top spot, honored by Gov. Mike Beebe for the more than 2.8 million volunteer hours donated to the people Arkansas.

The Cooperative Extension Service recorded 2.86 million hours by 36,792 people. The dollar value accorded to that unpaid work is $64.9 million. The extension service was recognized during a ceremony Tuesday at the Governor’s Mansion in Little Rock.

“Sounds like a cliché, but service is not only part of our name, it’s also deeply held mission for our hundreds of employees and affiliate members statewide,” said Tony Windham, associate vice president-agriculture-extension, for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “Not only do our employees give of their time to the communities, but our affiliates like the Extension Homemakers Council, Master Gardeners and 4-H volunteers all make it part of their mission to serve others.

Each year, the Division of Community Service and Nonprofit Support, part of the Arkansas Department of Human Services, issues a report on the economic impact of volunteers. The report said that in 2013, more than 500,000 Arkansans offered volunteer services. Seven-hundred-five organizations contributed 16.5 million hours of volunteer service to the state with a value of $423.01 million.

Over the previous two years, only the state Department of Human Services and its 10 divisions had higher numbers of volunteer time than the extension service.

To learn more about the Cooperative Extension Service and its volunteer opportunities, contact your county extension office or visit www.uaex.uada.edu.

The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

By Mary Hightower
U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

Media Contact: Mary Hightower
Dir. of Communication Services
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2126
mhightower@uada.edu

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