Maria Shriver Promotes CaliforniaVolunteers on American Idol

About CaliforniaVolunteers

CaliforniaVolunteers is the state office that manages programs and initiatives to increase the number of Californians involved with service and volunteering, including the state AmeriCorps program, California Citizen Corps and the Cesar Chavez Day of Service and Learning.

Through the innovative Web site, CaliforniaVolunteers.org, individuals and families can find more than 40,000 volunteer opportunities throughout the state involving the arts, education, animals, disaster preparedness, the environment and other areas of interest. Karen Baker, the nation’s first state cabinet secretary of service and volunteering leads the organization and First Lady Maria Shriver serves as the honorary chairperson.

Find a Great Volunteer Opportunity in California

Want to be part of a beach clean-up crew in Santa Cruz? Befriend lonely seniors in LA? Tutor kids in Sacramento? Help your community prepare for times of disaster in the Bay Area? You choose the issue, you name the location. You can volunteer one time, every month or every day.

Search the CaliforniaVolunteers.org database of more than 40,000 volunteer opportunities, easily zeroing in on opportunities in your own community that align with your interests and availability.

Or, if you need a bit of guidance to find your perfect volunteer opportunity, contact one of our local partners.

Looking to Volunteer Outside of California?

Check out our national partner's volunteer opportunity search engine at USAFreedomCorps.gov

Governor Schwarzenegger Appoints First-in-the-Nation Cabinet Secretary for Service

Governor Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver have always stressed that the Golden State's greatest resource is its people. No matter what the challenge-a natural disaster, a struggling community, or simply a neighbor in need-Californians consistently rise to the occasion. Over the past year, the state's volunteers showed that government responds best to both disasters and everyday challenges with the people's help. Whether it was assisting those displaced by the October firestorms, helping wildlife hurt by the San Francisco Bay oil spill, or tutoring disadvantaged youth, time and time again volunteers met the challenges facing California with the question, "How can I help?"

To encourage volunteerism in California and to improve coordination of volunteer efforts between the state's departments and agencies, Governor Schwarzenegger will take nation-leading action, signing an Executive Order to establish the new position of Secretary of Service and Volunteering. The Secretary will be a member of the Governor's Cabinet.

The Governor's action will raise the profile of service in the Golden State to a national level; improve coordination of vital volunteer activities statewide and support local service efforts; encourage more Californians to become involved with service and volunteerism; help California respond to natural disasters and emergencies; and give California's volunteers a voice at the highest levels of state government, all without adding any new net costs to the state budget.

California's volunteers have a positive multi-billion dollar impact on the state's economy every year. There is no better time than now to raise the profile of volunteerism in California.

*In 2006, volunteers contributed 858 million hours of service to the California economy-a value of more than $17.4 billion. According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, 6.5 million Californians (approximately 24 percent) over the age of sixteen volunteered in 2006; their hours represent a value of $17.4 billion.

*A one percent increase in the number of Californians who volunteer could have a $1 billion impact. A one percent increase in the number of Californians who volunteer would equal approximately 365,000 new volunteers contributing 48 million hours-equal to nearly $1 billion in service to the state.

*This Governor's action will cost the state no additional money.

This Executive Order will make California even better equipped to respond to residents' everyday needs, as well as wildfires, floods, heat waves, winter freezes, mudslides and earthquakes.

*Elevating volunteerism will help California strengthen its already robust volunteer force, increase volunteer opportunities and improve state government coordination.

*The Executive Order will:

-Build a robust volunteer and service force by establishing the Cabinet position of the Secretary of Service and Volunteering. This action gives volunteerism a stronger voice, greater visibility and will encourage millions of Californians to make their valuable skills available.

-Improve state support and coordination of local volunteer efforts in times of disaster.

-Encourage the development of public-private partnerships to boost investment and participation in volunteerism.
Improve coordination between state agencies and departments to better mobilize volunteers and increase volunteer opportunities within state government.

-Improve donation management in times of disaster by designating CaliforniaVolunteers as the lead state office for managing donations.

*Achieve all of this without adding new net costs to the state's budget.