The Power of Volunteers: One Person, Infinite Good

What is the essence of life? To serve others and to do good. – Aristotle

What could you do with seven billion hours? It sounds like a ridiculous question, right? It’s difficult to even fathom what seven billion hours looks like, but it’s a real number with annual significance. Last year, Americans gave over seven billion volunteer hours to organizations and causes all across the country, according to the Corporation for National & Community Service.

At Hire Heroes USA, we are fortunate to be approached every week by professionals nationwide who are simply looking for a way to give back. Our Volunteer Program started in 2012, and today we have more than 700 volunteers. Each does fantastic things for our organization and the veterans and spouses we serve. Most volunteers use their professional expertise to offer personalized recommendations and insights to our clients. Others give their time to improve our capacity or database. Whether our volunteers are working one-on-one with clients or serving the organization in another capacity, their contributions cannot be overstated.

One of our volunteers is an excellent example of what can be accomplished and why volunteers are so important: Donna started volunteering with us in September 2016, a few months after retiring from a senior Human Resources position with a major corporation. She knew she wanted to volunteer in support of veterans and military families, because her husband is a Vietnam veteran and a Purple Heart recipient, and their son serves in the Florida National Guard. After learning about Hire Heroes USA, Donna went through training to become an Outreach Volunteer at our headquarters office in Georgia. Within the first year of volunteering, she completed 250 hours of service. To put this in perspective, that equals over six 40-hour workweeks, and it’s one of the most significant time contributions we’ve had from a volunteer!

Outreach Volunteers follow up with Hire Heroes USA clients by phone and email to check on a number of things, including: need for additional services, number of applications submitted, progress with interviews, etc. It can be a tedious job, but Donna sees the value of her work: “Each client is unique – where they are in their transition and employment journey, their skills and motivation,” she says, adding, “Connecting with them for a productive outcome is energizing and fulfilling to me. I enjoy being part of the Hire Heroes USA team, a great group of committed and professional people.”

The exciting part of being an Outreach Volunteer is confirming a hire and learning about the success of someone who has spent weeks or months looking for work. “It’s satisfying to connect with a client who has just landed a job that meets or exceeds their expectations, who gives Hire Heroes USA credit for the services and support to make it happen,” Donna explains. She would know. Within her first year of volunteering, Donna identified 55 hires!

donna pic Workshop.DonnaMagee.HeatherKahlEven without the pleasure of confirming a hire, Donna knows the importance of the work we do: “From my past experience, I know that our military, veterans, and spouses have a rich array of valuable skills and experiences that civilian employers are hungry for, yet – without the correct translation – the transition can be challenging. Hire Heroes USA helps clients to successfully bridge the gap from military to civilian life.”

Donna’s experience in Human Resources adds to her value as an Outreach Volunteer. When she speaks to a client on the phone, she can offer insight on the employer’s perspective, which is valuable information for any job seeker. Donna points out, “Some of our clients only know the military, so the career coaching, resumes and advice from the staff is invaluable (and free of charge!).”

donna pic IMG_5484It’s humbling to work on behalf of veterans and spouses who are so deserving of our assistance. We also have the pleasure of working with volunteers like Donna, who find the time to give back to clients they may never meet face-to-face. She finds the volunteer work rewarding, too. “Helping thousands of clients achieve employment each year is an outstanding accomplishment, and we’ve been growing this number year-over-year. And coupled with a 4 -star rating from Charity Navigator, this is an organization with which I’m proud to be associated!”

Donna was recently recognized at our first-ever American Patriots Gala for her outstanding volunteer service with the Above & Beyond Award, recognizing a volunteer that has made a substantial impact to the organization beyond what is required or expected. We applaud and thank Donna for her service to our nation’s veterans, military members and their families. Hire Heroes USA is strengthened by the hundreds of volunteers who support us.

To Donna and all of our volunteers on this Thanksgiving Day, we thank you for choosing to make your community and world a better place.


Written by Hire Heroes USA’s Michele Wiesner, Director of our Volunteer Program

Navy SEAL Jocko Willink Headlines Hire Heroes USA’s Inaugural American Patriots Gala

Pre-Veterans Day event in Atlanta metro benefits national nonprofit’s mission to assist veterans into civilian workforce

Hire Heroes USA, the preeminent nonprofit organization providing employment services to transitioning U.S. military members, veterans and military spouses across the United States and around the world, today is hosting its American Patriots Gala, an exclusive pre-Veterans Day event that will celebrate the substantial impact the organization has made on the lives of veterans and their families over the past 10 years.

Retired Navy SEAL Jocko Willink, the New York Times best-selling author of “Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win,” and host of the popular JOCKO PODCAST, brings his unique and captivating style to the Atlanta metro area as keynote speaker for this major fundraising event. A recipient of both the Silver Star and Bronze Star medals, Willink was commander of SEAL Team Three’s Task Unit Bruiser, one of the most highly decorated Special Operations Units of the Iraq War. During the battle of Ramadi, he orchestrated SEAL operations that helped the “Ready First” Brigade of the U.S. Army’s First Armored Division bring stability to the violent, war-torn city.

Hire Heroes USA, which is headquartered in the Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta, recently earned Charity Navigator’s highest possible 4-star rating for a third consecutive year and is a top employment resource for thousands of transitioning military members, veterans and military spouses. It is also the leading veteran service organization specifically targeting the issues of unemployment and underemployment among veterans.

“This inaugural event in Georgia holds special significance for us, because this is where our nonprofit first got its start in 2007,” said Christopher Plamp, Chief Operating Officer and interim CEO of Hire Heroes USA, and a retired Air Force colonel. “About four weeks ago, Hire Heroes USA reached its 20,000th lifetime hire, a remarkable achievement that has generated an estimated economic impact of $242 million. That milestone is even more impressive because most of that total came amid rapid growth in the last 3-to-4 years. We work tirelessly to position Hire Heroes USA for continued growth and innovation, while delivering only the best and most effective services to our veteran and military spouse clients,” he added.

Hire Heroes USA’s free, personalized one-on-one career coaching services include resume, networking and interview assistance, federal sector help, mock interviews, and job sourcing. By aligning itself with employment partners that range from small businesses to Fortune 100 companies, the nonprofit also offers virtual career fairs and a job board that features thousands of career opportunities every month from companies that are seeking veteran talent.

About Hire Heroes USA: 
Headquartered in the Atlanta metro area, with additional branch offices around the country, Hire Heroes USA has earned Charity Navigator’s highest possible 4-star rating for a third consecutive year, and it also has a GuideStar Platinum level. The national nonprofit provides consistently effective, individualized career coaching services with an uncompromising focus on results. Hire Heroes USA’s programs are funded exclusively by private grants and public donations. For more information about our mission, our services, and how to get involved as a corporate partner, employment partner, donor or volunteer, please visit us online at hireheroesusa.org and follow us on FacebookTwitterLinkedIn, and Instagram.


A digital copy of this press release is also available online at: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2017/11/prweb14879844.htm