FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 15, 2025                                                           

Contact: Jessica Dorsey,  jessica.dorsey@ksde.gov, (785) 296-3163

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Kansas Volunteer Commission shouldn’t be shortened to KVC. It should be written out as Kansas Volunteer Commission.

Sixteen Kansas Employers Compete in

5th Annual Give Back Kansas Challenge

Challenge encourages employer-supported volunteering

Wichita/Topeka, KS—Sixteen Kansas employers are stepping up to make a difference in their communities by participating in the fifth annual Give Back Kansas Challenge, March 31 - May 23. This initiative promotes employer-supported volunteerism, encouraging employees to give back.

The challenge offers employees the opportunity to track and report their volunteer hours with a chance to win prizes, including a $1,000 grant from Volunteer Kansas to donate to the nonprofit of their choice.

According to Forbes.com, company-led volunteering fosters happier and more empathetic employees, enhances workplace culture, and boosts a brand's reputation.

"We’re excited to welcome so many first-time participants this year," said Nola Brown, executive director of Volunteer Kansas. "It’s inspiring to see businesses recognize the value of volunteering alongside their employees and actively champion community service."

The Give Back Kansas Challenge is a collaborative effort between Volunteer Kansas and the Kansas Volunteer Commission. The following are the 2025 participating employers :

• Andover Historical Museum – Andover
• Cloud County – Concordia
• Girls on the Run Serving Greater Kansas City – Kansas City
• Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters – Statewide
• Kansas State Department of Education – Topeka
• KFMC Health Improvement Partners – Topeka
• McPherson Museum & Arts Foundation – McPherson
• Peace Connections – Newton
• Rainbows United – Wichita
• Smoky Hill Museum Friends, Inc. – Salina
• Towanda Area Historical Museum – Towanda
• Urban League of Kansas – Wichita
• Fidelity Bank – Wichita
• Rise Up Reno – Hutchinson
• Hunter Health – Wichita
• Arvest Bank – Mission

Participation in the challenge is free, and businesses are grouped into three categories based on their employee size. Each organization logs volunteer hours through an online portal, with winners determined by the highest average volunteer hours per employee.

"We’re thrilled to support employers in motivating their teams to give back," said Jessica Dorsey, executive director of the Kansas Volunteer Commission. "This challenge is a fun, impactful way to connect businesses with local organizations in need of volunteers, and we’re proud to be part of it year after year."

For more details or to explore volunteer opportunities, visit www.volunteerkansas.org.

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The Kansas Volunteer Commission is a program of the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE). The mission of the Kansas Volunteer Commission is to empower all Kansans to meet community needs through service. The Commission's primary role is to provide resources and leadership to support local initiatives that tackle community needs. As the state service commission, the Commission directs effective national service programs, provides volunteer management training opportunities and supports the work of Mentor Kansas. For more information, visit www.kanserve.org.

Volunteer Kansas Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Wichita, Kansas. www.Volunteerkansas.org is a website dedicated to promoting volunteerism in Kansas, serving as a hub for Kansans to connect with nonprofits that need volunteers. The website is a free service to individuals and nonprofits. Volunteer Kansas’ vision is to become number one in the U.S. for volunteerism.