Chances are that at least one of your many New Year’s resolutions for 2011 involves working out, weight loss or some other form of self-improvement. Those who attended the Spirit of Giving Wednesday might just find a way to keep a resolution going throughout the year.

The event at Grosse Pointe Academy Wednesday connected attendees with about 40 local non-profit organizations. Coordinated by Alicia Carlisle of Grosse Pointe South’s SERVE program, it was co-sponsored by The Family Center and Beaumont Hospital. 

Grosse Pointe resident, Harvey Weaver, said the event was educational, helpful and just what he needed. He wanted to meet with several of the organizations for which he is considering to help.  Weaver has volunteered with the Friends of the Grosse Pointe Library and many school committees but is now looking forward to getting involved on a deeper level.

“I decided this would be a great way to meet with many non-profit organizations at one time,” said Weaver. “There are a lot of meaningful groups to choose from and I’m looking forward to making more of a commitment.”  

Grosse Pointe Schools Superintendent C. Suzanne Klein urged attendees to find an organization that utilizes their skills, talents, interests, passion and energy during a keynote address.  

A study published by the Corporation for National and Community Service finds evidence directly linking volunteering with better mental and physical health.  The ‘Health Benefits of Volunteering’ report found that those who donated their time and energy to others not only experienced a helpers-high, but decreased mortality rates, lowered incidents of depression and increased heart health. The study also found that serving about two hours a week yielded the best results.

Betsy Schulte, director of volunteer services for Beaumont Grosse Pointe, has a solid understanding of the correlation between volunteerism and healing.  In contrast to other locations, the facility has a high percentage of volunteers for the area’s population.

“We have more than 350 active volunteers and seldom have to outwardly recruit,” said Schulte.  “The majority of our volunteers have been patients at the hospital and really enjoy the environment and the feeling they get by helping others in a similar situation.”

The report on the health benefits of volunteering also illustrated that patients suffering from chronic pain experienced a marked decline in symptoms when they served as peer volunteers to patients with similar injuries.  Additionally, citing a study from Duke University, the report concludes that heart disease patients who included volunteering as part of their recovery therapy had less despair and depression, both of which are associated with recurring heart attacks.

The event was planned nearly a year ago as part of The Family Center’s ‘Ask the Expert’ series in which professionals and community members are paired together to share resources.  The organization is celebrating its tenth year and relies on more than 100 volunteers to provide enrichment programs for families and professionals. Deborah Liedel, director of the center, said the event is a true testament to the area’s commitment to volunteerism.

“It is important, especially in this economy, to help enrich the lives of others,” said Liedel.  “By giving our time and sharing resources we can make a difference and actually feel better ourselves.”