News Releases

Home Depot Enlists Americans to Join “Doing Nation”: Turn Outdoor Spring Projects into Support for Veterans
The Home Depot®, world’s largest home improvement retailer, announced today the launch of its “Doing Nation,” a special spring initiative on Facebook that allows consumers to turn their outdoor projects into cash for a good cause.

Volunteers of America Partners with CBS EcoMedia on Environmental Projects for Those in Need
Volunteers of America announced today that it has partnered with EcoMedia, a division of CBS, to identify and realize underfunded environmental improvement projects in low-income and subsidized housing developments across the nation. The goal of the partnership is to make housing for the country’s most vulnerable citizens more energy efficient, thus decreasing living expenses for those on fixed incomes, while improving the environment.

Volunteers of America Opens Innovative Housing for Seniors with Intellectual Disabilities and Mental Illness
Mary Marshall Assisted Living Residence, an innovative community-based facility for seniors with intellectual disabilities and mental illness, recently opened its doors to serve this growing and traditionally underserved group. The facility is owned and operated by Volunteers of America, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit providers of affordable housing for seniors and those with disabilities.

Volunteers of America Names Dr. Jonathan Sherin to Lead Rapidly-Growing Services for Veterans
Volunteers of America, one of the nation’s oldest and largest human service charities, announced today that Jonathan Sherin, M.D., Ph.D., has joined the organization in the newly created role of Executive Vice President for Veteran’s Affairs and Chief Medical Officer.

Volunteers of America Receives $1M from The Home Depot® Foundation to Provide Homes and Services to Vets in Need
As part of its “Celebration of Service” initiative to honor U.S. military veterans, The Home Depot® Foundation announced $1 million in grants to Volunteers of America to address the critical need for housing and services for U.S. military veterans.

The Home Depot Foundation, The Mission Continues and Volunteers of America MI to Build a Veterans Memorial Park
Almost 100 volunteers from The Home Depot Foundation, The Mission Continues and Volunteers of America MI will team up to transform a vacant lot in downtown Detroit into a Veterans Memorial Park, a vibrant new green space with beautiful landscaping, benches and a large pergola.

Volunteers of America Homeless Veteran Facility Gets New Coat of Paint
The 48 bedrooms of Volunteers of America of Greater Ohio’s Veterans Resource Center will get a new coat of paint thanks to 100 Home Depot® associates. To honor the homeless veteran residents of the center and to mark the special occasion, volunteers will also hold a commemorative board signing.

An Oasis on Skid Row… Courtesy of The Home Depot and Volunteers of America
On July 21, 2011 more than 50 associates from The Home Depot stores around the southland will volunteer their time and home improvement skills at Volunteers of America’s largest transitional housing facility in downtown Los Angeles.

Volunteers of America Honors Sioux Falls Philanthropist T. Denny Sanford with its 2011 Ballington and Maud Booth Award
Volunteers of America, one of the nation’s largest and oldest human services charities, presented its highest honor – the 2011 Ballington and Maud Booth Award – to T. Denny Sanford on June 14 during the organization’s national conference in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Volunteers of America Honors Senator George McGovern with 2011 Good Samaritan Award in Philanthropy
We recently presented our 2011 Good Samaritan Award to former presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. George McGovern in recognition of his public service career dedicated to fighting against poverty and hunger in America.

Volunteers of America Honors Programs Dedicated to Building Stronger Families
Volunteers of America of Kentucky was presented with the ninth-annual Volunteers of America/Annie E. Casey Foundation Family Strengthening Award on June 14 in recognition of its work to build stronger families and end the cycle of intergenerational poverty.

Volunteers of America Honors KELOLAND TV News Director Beth Jensen with its 2011 Empathy Award
We presented our 2011 Empathy Award to South Dakota journalist Beth Jensen in Sioux Falls on June 14. The Empathy Award recognizes authors, journalists and news organizations for outstanding community service and excellence in reporting about social issues.

Volunteers of America Honors Joe and Elaine Floyd with its 2011 Outstanding Community Service Award
Sioux Falls-area philanthropists Joe and Elaine Floyd were presented with our 2011 Outstanding Community Service Award in recognition of their years of service to a wide variety of local charitable causes. The award was presented by Volunteers of America, Dakotas, based in Sioux Falls, during the organization’s national conference at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.

Major League Baseball Players Award $150,000 in Grants to Volunteers of America Programs Nationwide
Major League baseball players presented $150,000 in grants from the Major League Baseball Players Trust to five Volunteers of America programs that further the organization’s mission to strengthen communities and build better lives for those in need. A total of $880,000 has been provided by the Players Trust to 59 Volunteers of America programs since the first grants were presented in 2003.

Volunteers of America Innovation Recognized by Global Media Company
WellAWARE Systems, the developer of breakthrough technology designed to enable proactive and preventive senior care, announced it has been named a finalist for the 2011 Red Herring 100 North America Award.

Volunteers of America and Major League Baseball Players Promote Service-Learning through New PSA Campaign
Major League baseball players and Volunteers of America are supporting their ongoing efforts to help train and inspire the next generation of volunteers by launching a new radio and TV public service announcement campaign, titled “Are You In?”. The spots were created to encourage students and teachers to volunteer through the high school-based Action Team national youth volunteer program.

Boomer Bust 2011, Unprepared & Unaware
This year, America’s baby boomers – 78 million people in all – begin turning 65 and this growing demographic wave threatens to cripple our financial and health care systems and significantly burden future generations.

The Home Depot Foundation Pledges Funds to Provide Veterans with Housing
Volunteers of America has partnered with The Home Depot Foundation to provide quality homes to veterans and their families. The foundation is providing $1.8 million to rehab properties where veterans and their families live.

Report Shows Looming Threat for Senior Care
With the country still recovering from the economic downturn, Volunteers of America has released an eye-opening study on the state of aging in the U.S. The collision of the economy, the health care crisis and a large population of aging Americans has put many families in or near financial crisis.

Tom Turnbull Named New Chief Operating Officer for Volunteers of America
Volunteers of America announced today that Tom Turnbull has been named to its newly-created Chief Operating Officer position. A more than 30-year veteran of the organization, Turnbull will oversee the organization’s national health care and housing division.

Childhood Disrupted: New Report Examines Children’s Lives When Mother is in Prison
Most incarcerated mothers feel unprepared to resume caring for their children after being released from prison, and the majority of these families don’t have access to the support they need to rebuild parental bonds and establish successful lives, according to the results of new research.

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray Presented 2010 Good Samaritan Award in Philanthropy
Volunteers of America presented its 2010 Good Samaritan Award in Philanthropy to U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) in recognition of her legislative career dedicated to helping veterans and others in need. The award was presented on Oct. 27 at the offices of Volunteers of America Western Washington.

Volunteers of America Launches New Celebrity PSA Campaign to Encourage Family Members to Talk About Aging
As Volunteers of America continues to move boldly forward with its focus on aging issues, a new public service announcement (PSA) campaign is being launched featuring celebrities, kicking off with Joan and Melissa Rivers.

Volunteers of America Honors The Boeing Company and The Employees Community Fund of Boeing with its 2010 Outstanding Community Service Award
The Boeing Company and The Employees Community Fund of Boeing were presented June 7 with Volunteers of America’s 2010 Outstanding Community Service Award, in recognition of the support provided by both organizations to Volunteers of America’s Western Washington office during the past 50 years.

Volunteers of America Honors Raul Yzaguirre, Former National Council of La Raza President, with its 2010 Booth Award
Volunteers of America, one of the nation’s largest and oldest human services charities, presented its highest honor – the 2010 Ballington and Maud Booth Award – to Raul Yzaguirre on June 7 during the organization’s national conference in Seattle.

Volunteers of America Honors Programs Dedicated to Building Stronger Families
Volunteers of America of Indiana was presented with the eighth-annual Volunteers of America/Annie E. Casey Foundation Family Strengthening Award on June 7 in recognition of its work to build stronger families and end the cycle of intergenerational poverty.

Volunteers of America Honors Author and Cultural Anthropologist Mary Catherine Bateson with its 2010 Empathy Award
Volunteers of America, one of the nation’s largest and oldest human services organizations, presented its 2010 Empathy Award to author Mary Catherine Bateson in Seattle on June 7.

Major League Baseball Players Award $150,000 in Grants to Volunteers of America Programs Nationwide
Major League baseball players presented $150,000 in grants from the Major League Baseball Players Trust to six Volunteers of America programs that further the organization’s mission to strengthen communities and build better lives for those in need.

Michael King Named New National President and CEO
Michael ("Mike") King is our new national president and chief executive officer. He will lead the 114 year-old faith-based organization as it continues to expand its existing services to needy Americans while also implementing a new strategy focused on innovative services for older people.

Study Shows Women In America Prefer Aging at Home But Many Will Not Have Financial Resources To Do So
In a study released by Volunteers of America, women 45 to 65 years of age report that they are frighteningly unprepared for old age—financially, legally or emotionally. Many of these women also find themselves having to care for an aging parent and 48 percent of these caregivers report that the economic downturn has made the role of caregiver more difficult.

Displaced Seniors Return Home to New Orleans
Volunteers of America, a leading national nonprofit organization with established roots in New Orleans, welcomed home seniors displaced by Hurricane Katrina during a grand opening for The Terraces on Tulane on March 26.