We have the largest, most active and fastest growing of seniors in our history. If we harness the energy of these seniors, we'll have a tremendous force for tackling some of society's most difficult problems, says Harris Wofford, Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National Service. The number one reason why people volunteer is because they are asked. The key to RSVP's appeal is its flexibility. The volunteers decide how much time they give and build a plan of service around their individual interests and experience.
Volunteers can use the skills they've learned in their careers or choose to learn something new.
A retired tax accountant, for example, can volunteer in his field of expertise or decide to help build houses for the underprivileged. RSVP volunteers serve in more than 63,000 public, private, and non-profit organizations. Last year alone, RSVP connected more than 500,000 volunteers nationwide to community activities that ranged from testing water for environmental safety to tutoring troubled students to conducting safety patrols on behalf of local police. The PSA vignettes profile active RSVP volunteers who talk about how they're serving in their local communities.