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VOLUNTEER Hampton Roads Moves Main Office to Campus

Impacting change through a community of volunteers just got a boost at VWU

University News | July 16, 2019

One of Virginia Wesleyan’s valued partners in the not-for-profit community, VOLUNTEER Hampton Roads (VHR), has moved its entire operation to the VWU campus. Allen Village will now be the primary home for the organization that has had a branch office on campus since 2016. This recent move expands the VHR's presence on campus, as well as its partnership with the University.

“VOLUNTEER Hampton Roads is excited to move its entire operations to the Virginia Wesleyan University campus,” said Stephanie Gorham, Executive Director of VHR. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with the University, Wesleyan Engaged, and the many volunteers on campus.  Together, our missions create a strong force of multipliers ready to mobilize a community of volunteers to create impactful change.”

Over the past 60 years, VOLUNTEER Hampton Roads has evolved from a traditional volunteer clearinghouse into a full-service management support organization for the nonprofit sector. The mission of the organization is to connect businesses with opportunities that create a positive impact on the community, to equip nonprofits with the resources they need to achieve their mission, and to mobilize a community of volunteers to create change.

Virginia Wesleyan has a long history with VOLUNTEER Hampton Roads. In fact, the organization has held its annual Family Volunteer Day at the University for more than a decade, inviting hundreds of guests to collect nonperishable food items for area nonprofits. Virginia Wesleyan’s long partnership with VHR has resulted in numerous benefits for both organizations over the years. From additional resources for community engagement and greater connections to  volunteer opportunities to access to training in non-profit and volunteer management and the potential for mentorships and internships, students and business and civic leaders are enabled to work together for the greater good of the community.

“We welcome VHR Executive Director Stephanie Gorham and her team,” said President Scott D. Miller. “We look forward to new opportunities to collaborate with this highly respected provider of services to area not-for-profit organizations.”

Volunteerism at VWU is coordinated through Wesleyan Engaged: Center for Civic Leadership and Service Learning. The VWU community completed more than 20,066 hours of documented volunteer engagement across the globe during the 2018-19 academic year alone. To learn more about volunteer opportunities at VWU, contact Director of Wesleyan Engaged, Brian Kurisky.