Today (Tuesday) is the start of the seven-and-a-half week long “Give Back Iowa Challenge.” Leah Rodenberg, of Alliant Energy, is co-chair of the effort, which is designed to get Iowa business owners to encourage their employees to volunteer.
“Participating in the Give Back Iowa Challenge will be a chance for your company to see the positive effect volunteering has on your employees, company and the community,” she says.

Angela Ten Clay of Wellmark Blue Cross-Blue Shield is the other co-chair. “At Wellmark, we understand the impact volunteering has on employee wellness and we hope other companies will join us in participating in the challenge to boost both Iowa’s goals to be the healthiest state and a leader in volunteerism,” Ten Clay says.

Companies can sign up for the challenge online at volunteer-Iowa-dot-org (www.volunteeriowa.org). The challenge starts today (April 14th) and ends May 31st. Businesses that wind up with the highest average of volunteer hours per employee will get a congratulatory visit from the governor or lieutenant governor. Iowa currently ranks sixth among the states for the number of volunteer hours per resident.

(Radio Iowa)