WHEREAS, Volunteers of America Day is an opportunity to extend gratitude to every Virginian who dedicates their time, resources, and talent to communities and neighborhoods across the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Volunteers of America Day pays homage to Maud and Ballington Booth, the founders of the Volunteers of America movement founded in 1896; and

WHEREAS, the most recent survey in Virginia demonstrates that over 2.2 million individuals volunteer every year and more than 156 million hours of service occur in Virginia communities; and

WHEREAS, Serve Virginia, a leading volunteerism organization in Virginia, serves to mobilize a network of volunteers and partners who believe in the significance of service and community engagement in our nation; and

WHEREAS, The Virginia Volunteerism Network, facilitated by Serve Virginia, brings several volunteer groups together to assess the current volunteer needs in the Commonwealth, share best practices, and support direct service organizations; and

WHEREAS, on Volunteers of America Day we recognize the selfless efforts of volunteer groups, organizations, and individuals in the Commonwealth and will continue to uplift the spirit of service and excellence in every community;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Abigail D. Spanberger, Governor, do hereby recognize the day of March 8, 2026, as VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA DAY in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.