About Us
Our Mission:
To engage the community to care for one another through volunteerism in the Greater Lehigh Valley.
Our Vision:
To be the premier resource on volunteerism for the benefit of the community and organizations we serve.
Our History:
The Volunteer Center began in 1982 when the Junior League of the Lehigh Valley voted to establish a Voluntary Action Center as a project, pledging $30,000 over a two-year period. Incorporation followed in 1985.
In 1989, the Volunteer Center became an internal department of the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley and in January 1997, the Volunteer Center again became an independent agency — the Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley.
Today, the Volunteer Center focuses on three main areas of volunteerism: Educate, Coordinate and Motivate. These are the core of what we do, who we are and our programs, projects and events reflect these areas.
The Volunteer Center is affiliated nationally with The Points of Light Institute, HandsOn Network, and the Corporation for National & Community Service, and is a member of the following: Volunteer Centers of Pennsylvania; the State Commission Advisory Board for Citizen Service; Keystone Service Coalition; United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley; and Society of Volunteer Administrators of the Lehigh Valley.
In 2011, the Volunteer Center recruited, matched, recognized, and trained more than 15,500 volunteers. Of those, 2900 were youth volunteers. These volunteers saved Lehigh Valley agencies and the community more than $42 million. The Volunteer Center collaborates with more than 50 area corporations and 450 Lehigh Valley agencies to create educational and human service partnerships to enhance and enrich the Lehigh Valley community.
Contact us for more information about how you can be involved in making your community a better place to live.