IDHS - Serve Illinois is pleased to announce its Illinois Conference on Volunteerism and Administration. We are seeking qualified presenters to present in an in-person format. This is a valuable experience and provides access to a diverse audience to share your content and knowledge. Presenters will be paid an honorarium of $300.00 to $500.00 based on education and professional experience.

The conference will take place on Thursday, October 10, 2024, from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM at the Crowne Plaza Chicago West Loop 25 South Halsted Street Chicago, Illinois 60661.

The finalists were chosen by a distinguished panel of judges who reviewed more than 40 applications. The final four community-based projects covered the categories of Youth Development and Education, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Healthy Futures. ​ 

The ceremony honoring finalists and the winner was held at Erin’s Pavillion in Springfield Wednesday evening, following presentations by finalists at the Illinois State Fair earlier in the day. ​ 

The winner of the Governor’s Cup was the City of Edwardsville's Challenger Baseball. All four communities were also given a highway sign that will be installed later this year. 

The IDHS-Serve Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service is proud to bring back the Illinois Conference on Volunteerism and Administration (ICOVA)!

Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from social impact leaders and connect with those passionate about civic engagement!

Summertime is such a dichotomy of a season for everyone.  It is a time for celebrating the culmination of hard work and the commitment to a goal.  The culmination can be regarding the end of the educational journey, in government, it can be the ending of the fiscal year, for AmeriCorps, it can be completing the hours for a service year, and in volunteerism, it’s the season to recognize the winning community project for the Governor’s Hometown Award!

As much as it is a time of culmination, it is also a time of new beginnings.  New service year for new members, new programs in AmeriCorps, new volunteer projects being implemented by individuals and communities, new commissioners joining Serve Illinois, and a new fiscal year in Illinois.  Summertime is a time of ending and beginning, a time to rest and celebrate, and a time to plan for a new journey that speaks to your professional, educational, and civic ethos.

The Serve Illinois Commission would like to wish you a safe summer.  One filled with reflection on what has been accomplished or one filled with great endeavors for the next phase you may be entering.

Yours in Service,

Andres J. Fernandez

Serve Illinois Executive Director

The 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance Meal Packing event is back!

Join us on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at Union Station in Chicago to pack over 500,000 meals benefiting local residents. Be a part of thousands of volunteers from all over Illinois coming together to fight hunger, do a good deed, and break meal-packing records!

If you're ready to honor those who were lost, injured, and bravely rose in service on 9/11, scan the QR Code or visit the Support Staff Signup.