Columbus, Ohio is 8th in nation for volunteering

clipped from www.bizjournals.com A new federal report pegs the Columbus area as one of the best cities in the nation for volunteering, its rate of involvement surpassing the national average. The annual Volunteering in America report, produced by the Corporation for National & Community Service, shows that 31.9 percent of residents in the metropolitan statistical area volunteer, based on an average using 2007-09 data. That accounts for about 410,000 volunteers. The metro ranked eighth in the nation for its volunteer rate. It finished a slot higher at No. 7 for the average 43.4 hours per resident logged each year, translating into about $1.2 billion in annual service. Despite the economic crisis, the national volunteer rate went up to 26.8 percent last year, with 63.4 million volunteers donating about 8.1 billion hours of service worth $169 billion, according to the report. Ohio ranked 21st nationwide with a volunteer rate of 29.6 percent. Despite the economic crisis, the national volunteer rate went up to 26.8 percent last year, with 63.4 million volunteers donating about 8.1 billion hours of service worth $169 billion, according to the report. Ohio ranked 21st nationwide with a volunteer rate of 29.6 percent. Volunteering data used in the annual report are gathered through the Current Population Survey, conducted monthly by the U.S. Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Volunteers are defined as individuals ages 16 and over who perform unpaid activities for or through an organization. Click here for a full report on volunteer activity in Columbus.