Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame Nominations Open
Nominations for the 2026 Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame Awards are now being accepted! Time is running out - nominations MUST be submitted online or postmarked by January 21, 2026. Honorees will be recognized during a special ceremony at the Capitol in April. Details and nomination materials can be found on the Volunteer Iowa website.
Induction into the Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame is the highest state-level honor volunteers can receive; the people selected have changed the community, the state, the nation, or the world through the gifts of their time and talent. Inductees are recognized both during a special ceremony held in the State Capitol Building and by having their names engraved on the Volunteer Hall of Fame plaque on permanent display in the State Historical Museum. Since the award’s inception in 1989, nearly 180 Iowans have been honored.
Any Iowa individual, national service member (current or alum), family, group, organization, nonprofit, business, or corporation, who has made a long-lasting positive and meaningful difference in the lives of people through their volunteer service activities, may be nominated for the Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame.
Anyone with questions or needing assistance with the nomination form can contact Rebecca Gernes.
January is National Mentoring Month
Welcome to National Mentoring Month! Iowa MENTOR is celebrating the annual campaign aimed at expanding quality mentoring opportunities to connect more of our community’s young people with caring adults.
Research shows that mentors play a powerful role in providing young people with the tools to make positive choices, attend and engage in school, and reduce or avoid negative behaviors. In turn, these young people are:
- 55% more likely to be enrolled in college.
- 81% more likely to report participating regularly in sports or extracurricular activities.
- 78% more likely to volunteer regularly in their communities.
- More than twice as likely to say they held a leadership position in a club or sports team.
Yet, the same research shows that more than one in three young people in our country will grow up without a mentor.
National Mentoring Month is the time of year when engagement from community members interested in becoming a mentor is highest. This year, with the support of the mentoring community, we are encouraging the public to go beyond just digital engagement and become involved in real life. Mentoring relationships are at their best when connections are made between a caring adult and a young person who knows that someone is there to help guide them through life choices.
To become a mentor, go to mentoring.org and take the first step via the Mentoring Connector. To learn more about the role mentoring plays in our community, visit the Iowa MENTOR website.
MLK National Day of Service
The Martin Luther King, Jr., National Day of Service is a defining moment each year when Americans across the country step up to take action to create the Beloved Community of Dr. King’s dream. MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities.
Together, we can strengthen ties to our communities and one another while we address critical issues that divide us. Find volunteer opportunities in your community to celebrate the MLK National Day of Service.
Join Volunteer Iowa for an upcoming webinar on the future of youth service in Iowa
Together with youth-serving organizations, educators, civic leaders, and young people, we’ll explore current challenges, envision bold possibilities, and identify practical strategies to expand youth participation in service and civic life. Join us Thursday, January 29, 2026, from 12:00–2:00pm. Register to attend live or receive the recording.
|
