New Lions Clubs International Survey Reports Americans Devoted Same Amount Of
      Time and Money to Community Service in Year Following September 11

    CHICAGO, Sept. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite widespread assumption that
volunteerism has increased significantly since September 11, 2001, a new
survey finds that 83 percent of Americans participated in the same amount of
community service activity this year as in the previous year. A majority (69%)
believed that the importance of donating time and money should not be tied to
the events of September 11.
    Commissioned by Lions Clubs International, the survey of 1,000 Americans
conducted in August 2002 captures Americans' attitudes on volunteerism and
trends in community service over the past year. It shows a contrast to earlier
roper reports indicating that Americans intended to commit to a greater amount
of charity work in the months following September 11.
    As the Lions Clubs International survey reveals, volunteerism has not
increased greatly since September 11 but remains alive and well. Nearly two-
thirds of Americans actively participated in local and national community
service causes within the last 12 months.
    "Even in an extremely difficult year when Americans wanted to spend more
time with their families, it is encouraging that we have maintained our
national commitment to volunteerism," says Lions Clubs International President
Kay Fukushima. "It's an indication that community service has become an
integral part of our daily lives."
    Significantly, 73 percent of respondents focused their efforts on local
causes not related to September 11, and more than 70 percent report feeling a
sense of pride and fulfillment from volunteering.
    "Clearly, Americans want to participate in causes that answer the needs of
their local community, whether that is New York City or Sacramento, Calif.,"
said Fukushima. "This mirrors Lions clubs' commitment to serve the communities
in which we live."
    Survey statistics overall showed that there continues to be a strong,
proactive interest in community service, especially at the local level:
     -- 64 percent of respondents volunteer up to 10 hours a month
     -- Women are most likely to have volunteered, especially those with two
        or more members in a household (63% of volunteering women) and those
        with children in the household (67% of volunteering women)
     -- Major positive effects of volunteerism are more self-respect (55%), a
        feeling that they were honoring victims of September 11 (37%) and more
        respect from their peers (36%)

    Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club
organization, with nearly 1.4 million members in approximately 44,800 clubs in
190 countries and geographical areas around the world. Since 1917 Lions clubs
have aided the blind and visually impaired and made a strong commitment to
community service and serving youth throughout the world.

Link to this page: