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Community Corner

Team Rubicon Salutes National Volunteer Week


Team Rubicon, a veteran-led disaster response organization, joins nonprofits across the country in recognizing National Volunteer Week, April 6-12. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the celebration, heralding the vital role volunteers play in communities across the country.

Established in 1974, National Volunteer Week has grown every year since its inception and now includes the support and endorsement of all subsequent U.S. presidents and many governors, mayors, and elected officials throughout the country.

“Our volunteers take time from their families, jobs and the comforts of home to help others—for no gain other than fulfilling a continued sense of purpose,” said Jake Wood, CEO and cofounder of Team Rubicon. “For them, a simple thank you and an occasional hug is worth more than any paycheck.”

Volunteer labor brings significant savings to nonprofit organizations. Altogether, Team Rubicon volunteers engaged in 87,282 hours last year. The estimated value of this volunteer service is nearly $2 million, based on the Independent Sector’s estimate of the average value of a volunteer hour ($22.14 in 2012).

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Beyond these cost savings, volunteers make a measurable difference in the communities they serve. For example, Team Rubicon saved homeowners in Oklahoma an estimated $3.7 million in recovery costs through debris removal and home repairs, following devastating tornadoes last year.

Team Rubicon unites the skills of military veterans with first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams. Beyond disaster relief, Team Rubicon helps veterans find a renewed sense of purpose, which is vital as many return to civilian life after more than a decade of war.

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Since its founding in 2010, the organization has grown to 15,000 members and has conducted 53 operations including the Haiti Earthquake, Superstorm Sandy, Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, and recent winter storms across the country.

The rapid growth, according to Wood, is a credit to the skills and experience of its volunteers which seamlessly translate to disaster work—including search and rescue, field medicine, damage assessment, debris removal, and volunteer management.

When not responding to disasters, Team Rubicon volunteers take part in community service projects, training opportunities, and social events that build camaraderie and promote a sense of community.

April 12, Team Rubicon will join with fellow nonprofits The Mission Continues, and Team Red, White and Blue, for the third-annual Run As One, a 5K run that will bring together thousands of veterans and supporters in over 60 cities. There is no fee for the run, and the public is invited to take part.

“Whether they are veterans, first responders or civilians, our volunteers represent the best that America has to offer,” said Wood. “Recognizing their efforts is the very least we can do, and I encourage everyone to follow their lead.”

To register for Run As One, or to learn how you can support Team Rubicon’s mission, visit www.teamrubiconusa.org.

About Team Rubicon Team Rubicon (TR) unites the skills and experience of military veterans with first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams. TR offers veterans a chance to continue their service by helping and empowering those afflicted by disasters, and also themselves. For more about Team Rubicon, visit www.teamrubiconusa.org.

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