Although April was National Volunteer Month, every month is an opportunity to celebrate the selfless individuals and groups who strengthen and uplift our communities.
September 11th is right around the corner, and the official designated day for the National Day of Service and Remembrance under the 2009 Serve America Act. Thank you to all the volunteers.
If you are seeking an opportunity to volunteer for a nonprofit, read the last paragraph of this article.
Were you also aware of the following national days of service to celebrate volunteers and nonprofits?
JANUARY
- National Mentoring Month – January
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – Third Monday in January
FEBRUARY
- Corporate Philanthropy Day – 26th
- Random Acts of Kindness Week – Second full week of February
MARCH
- Americorps Week – Early March and Dates vary
- Cesar Chavez Day of Service & Learning – 31st
APRIL
- Global Volunteer Month – Month of April
- National Volunteer Week – Third Week of April
- Global Youth Service Day – Dates Vary
- Good Deeds Day – Early April
- Earth Day – 22nd
MAY
- Join Hands Day – First Saturday in May
- Senior Corps Week – dates vary
- Public Service Recognition Week – First full week of May
JUNE
- National Public Service Day – 23rd
- National Trails Day – First Saturday in June
- National Cleanup Day – Third Saturday in September (and June events too)
JULY
- Mandela Day – 18th
AUGUST
- National Nonprofit Day – 17th
SEPTEMBER
- International Day of Charity – 5th
- National Day of Service & Remembrance – 11th
- National Cleanup Day – Third Saturday in September (and June events too)
OCTOBER
- Be the Change Day – dates vary
- Make a Difference Day – Fourth Saturday in October
- National Pro Bono Week – Last week of October
NOVEMBER
- International Volunteer Managers Day – 5th
- Veterans Day – 11th
- National Philanthropy Day – 15th
- Family Volunteer Day – Saturday before Thanksgiving
- Mitzvah Day – dates vary
- World Kindness Day – 13th
- World Toilet Day – 19th (yes, it’s a thing for mobilizing support and awareness for sanitation and hygiene issues)
DECEMBER
- World AIDS Day – 1st
- International Day of Personals with Disabilities – 3rd
- International Volunteer Day – 5th
- Giving Tuesday – Tuesday after Thanksgiving (but we accept Givebutter donations year-round at our 501(c)3 nonprofit, Great Careers Network, and you will receive an immediate tax-deduction receipt)
I would like to recognize some young volunteers from my own Conestoga High School, as well as a neighboring high school, Great Valley.
At the 20th Annual Breakfast of Champions, hosted by the Paoli Business & Professional Association (PBPA) (where I am on the Board of Directors) we celebrated young volunteers who have made a difference in our community.
The event was held at the Upper Main Line YMCA, where six remarkable high school students were recognized for their dedication to volunteering, school initiatives, and civic engagement.
This celebration was made possible through the Front Porch Trust Scholarship Fund, created by the Paoli 250 Anniversary Committee and supported by the PBPA.
A heartfelt thank you to our incredible sponsors:
- WSFS Bank (Lead Sponsor)
- The Allstate Logan Insurance Agency, Paoli
- The Allstate Foundation
- Matthews Paoli Ford
- Our Del & Cafe, Paoli
- J Anderson Wilson
- Linda’s Country Cleaners
- Edward C. Auble
- Lynne Williams – Resumes & LinkedIn | GreatCareers.org
- Paoli Business and Professional Association
- Upper Main Line YMCA
The Vital Role of Youth in Volunteering
High school volunteers bring fresh energy, unique perspectives, and genuine passion for service. Their impact extends far beyond meeting graduation requirements, shaping their character and preparing them to become lifelong contributors to society.
Celebrating Our Student Champions
Conestoga High School
- 1st Place: Ella Skrdla
- 2nd Place: Kevin Peng
- 3rd Place: Brianna Feng
Great Valley High School
- 1st Place: Shivika Varshney
- 2nd Place: Sabrina Maldonado
- 3rd Place: Benjamin Gunderson
These students were honored for their inspiring essays and their outstanding volunteer service.
Highlights from the Event
- Beverly Logan, President of the Front Porch Trust and the Allstate Logan Insurance Agency, shared heartfelt remarks.
- Abby Morgan, Thom Stecher & Associates, delivered the keynote on the personal rewards of giving back.
- Certificates of achievement were presented by representatives of State Representatives Melissa Shusterman and Kristine Howard.
- Edward C. Auble of Auble Financial closed the event with recognition of WSFS Bank’s 20 years of support.
- William McGahey, VP and Retail Office Manager at WSFS and President of PBPA, joined in honoring the students.
Why Student Volunteering Matters
Through volunteering, students:
- Build leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and communication skills
- Bridge classroom learning with real-world experiences
- Catalyze positive community change through student-led projects
- Develop empathy, civic responsibility, and a lifelong commitment to service
Showcasing Achievements on LinkedIn
Students are encouraged to highlight their volunteer accomplishments by:
- Listing awards under Honors & Awards
- Recording service under Volunteering
- Highlighting projects (Eagle Scout, Gold Award, etc.) under Projects
For tips on using LinkedIn effectively, check out upcoming Great Careers Network events!
Inspiring the Next Generation
As Margaret Mead wisely said: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
To the students of Conestoga and Great Valley High Schools – bravo! You are true Go-Givers. May you continue paying it forward throughout your lives, becoming the civic leaders of tomorrow.
Let’s continue to uplift and celebrate these incredible young changemakers who remind us that no one is too young to make a meaningful impact.
As a proud nonprofit servant leader and longtime Tredyffrin/Easttown graduate and resident, I joyfully applaud my fellow Conestoga High School alumni and those from Great Valley School District. Continue being Go-Givers, as your spirit uplifts us all!
Seeking to Fill Volunteer & Board of Directors Roles & Interns
Ready to make a difference? Join us as a volunteer or Board member and help support job seekers, entrepreneurs, and employed professionals through career education. Email me for an application at director@greatcareersphl.org to get started today.
Interested in an internship? Each May, I welcome Conestoga High School interns, and I offer unpaid internships year-round for university students. Email me at director@greatcareersphl.org to express your interest.
NEXT STEPS
- Subscribe to my newsletter on LinkedIn™ for bright ideas on how to manage your career.
- If you need a resume or LinkedIn™ profile to get you to your next step, book a call to chat! Can’t beat a free discovery call!
- Join as a member at https://greatcareers.org/membership of the #1 business networking association on the Philadelphia Business Journal’s Book of Lists five years in a row!
- Follow #GreatCareersPHL
BIO
Lynne M. Williams is the Executive Director of the Great Careers Network, a volunteer-run 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides career development and networking connections for 1) job seekers in career transition, including veterans, and 2) employed and self-employed for career management.
Aside from writing keyword-focused content for ATS resumes and LinkedIn profiles, Lynne is writing her doctoral dissertation on LinkedIn for Job Seekers. She is a contributing author on “Applying to Positions” in Find Your Fit: A Practical Guide to Landing the Job You Love, along with the late Dick Bolles, the author of What Color is Your Parachute?, and is also a speaker on career topics.
