NE Valley Times

Mayor David D. Ortega has proclaimed April 21-27 as Scottsdale Volunteer Appreciation Week, recognizing the thousands of citizen volunteers who make a difference in the city every day. 

"In the last fiscal year, more than 3,700 citizen volunteers contributed in excess of 114,000 hours of service to the community, which saved the taxpayers an estimated $3.4 million in labor costs," Mayor Ortega stated.

Volunteer Coordinator Brandon Chapman emphasized the importance of volunteers, stating, "Volunteers truly are the city’s supplementary workforce. The real value of the volunteer program, though, isn’t so much the amount of work that is accomplished, but simply that it allows people to engage with their community, connect with others and find purpose."

Mayor Ortega expressed his gratitude towards the volunteers, saying, “Scottsdale carries so much beauty, is a clean city and is a great place to do business due to our residents who volunteer side-by-side with our employees. Our entire Council is exceedingly grateful for all the Scottsdale community volunteers who serve as ambassadors and stewards, work on beautification crews, assist our public safety personnel and so much more.”

Since 1974, National Volunteer Week has been celebrated each year in the United States by Presidential proclamation. Scottsdale’s proclamation goes one step further in naming this Volunteer Appreciation Week to express just how much the city owes to those who donate their time, talents and care.

The city’s volunteer workforce is larger than its paid staff by nearly 1,000 people, showing Scottsdale residents' commitment to maintaining and improving the community. Chapman highlighted the impact of volunteerism, stating, "Nearly every department in every corner of the city benefits in some way from the service of volunteers. From Adopt-a-Road sponsors to the Old Town Ambassadors, volunteerism is the 'secret' behind many of the unique attributes and services that make Scottsdale an exceptional place to be, for residents and visitors alike."

The Mayor encouraged those interested in volunteering to learn more about the citywide volunteer program on ScottsdaleAZ.gov/volunteer.