A new IVC year has begun, an occurrence that never fails to fill me with hope and optimism! In the past year, we continued to grow and expand the IVC community; our region directors welcomed 204 new members to the service corps, helping us break above pre-pandemic levels. This influx is a validation of the tremendous importance of IVC’s work that even through the COVID-19 pandemic and all the limitations it placed on in-person gatherings and recruitment, the Holy Spirit continued to call people to come and make a difference. From this momentum, we anticipate that we will end the year with over 500 members serving from Maine to California and Louisiana to Minnesota.
According to the Independent Sector’s 2022 valuation of volunteer time, each IVC member provides approximately $22,043 in skilled services to their partner agency each year. A 500-member corps will save the social service industry an estimated $11,021,600 in salary costs. That’s money each partner agency can put toward programs and direct services like healthcare, education, aid for survivors of domestic violence, emergency services for people trying to escape poverty, and so on, all while relying on the compassionate commitment of their IVC member.
This new year brings many exciting changes and additions to our IVC family. First, our regions in the Washington DC/Metro Maryland and Northern Virginia area joined forces to form a new National Capital Area region. The regional offices already collaborated closely on their annual fundraiser, the Evening of Gratitude, which this year counted among its honorees Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Christine Grady. This unification was a natural next step in that collaboration. As new members join IVC of the National Capital Area, it will no longer matter where members live, work or worship. We are committed to having good representation from all parts of the new region.
Next, IVC charted a new pathway to offer services more broadly and beyond our traditional geographic boundaries. In 2021 we piloted a virtual program offering opportunities for people to serve anywhere in the world from home. Recruitment and partnerships exceeded our initial expectations. So much so, that as we begin the 2022-23 program year, the Virtual Program stands alongside our regional programs.
Finally, the increased success of IVC’s mission allowed us to welcome new staff to our regional and national offices. Mickie Abatemarco, Joanne Fisher, and Anne Mollner were named Directors of Portland, Omaha, and our Virtual Program, respectively. Colleen Favetti will join us on November 1st as director of IVC Cleveland. Mike Goggin leads our new National Capital Area region as Senior Director, with Chris Kelly and Anne Marie Mason serving as program managers. And we recently welcomed Tanya Rybarczyk and Cathy Buescher as new program managers in New England and Chicago. Kevin Gary came on board our national office as IVC’s first Communication Manager, and Nicole Manzanera accepted the Admin and Database Assistant position.
It brings me so much joy to bring this good news to you all. Each of you is a testament to IVC’s ability to make a difference in the lives of our members and the people they serve. I am confident this year will bring even more exciting opportunities, and I look forward to sharing them with the entire IVC community.