Given that April 27 - May 3, 2008 is National Volunteer Week, I thought I would devote this column to the lifeblood of any charitable organization - its volunteers.

The Surrey Foundation would not exist without the dedication and support of our many volunteers.  Almost 15 years ago, a volunteer board of directors had a vision for making a difference in the City of Surrey.  Without them, and their passion and commitment to the city we live in, the charitable projects of Surrey would be $1 Million poorer, and there would not be a large endowment fund built to assist organizations in the future.

Today, we have volunteers that support us in a variety of areas, such as helping in the office, planning events, raising awareness of the Foundation in the community, and working with investments, to name a few.

I like to think there is a role for everyone at the community foundation.  After all, that's what the word community is all about.  We're always looking for more volunteers and currently, we are searching for additional board members who are well-connected within Surrey and/or have particular strengths in the area of fundraising.  If these areas are of interest to you, please call or email us so we can explore the opportunity further.

Everyone in our community can benefit from the help of volunteers.  If you are interested in volunteering your time, I encourage you to pick an area that interests you, find a local charity that works for that cause in your community, and use your skills to help them.  Try it out; it doesn't have to be a long-term commitment, as roles can be tailored to skills and available time.  Check out City of Surrey (www.surrey.ca), Surrey Community Services (www.scss.ca), or Charity Village (www.charityvillage.com); they list various volunteer opportunities.

To those of you who currently volunteer, thank you!  This week is a tribute to your generosity.