Growing a Culture of Service

Volunteer Ally

Volunteer Ally is helping young people across Hawaiʻi discover that service can be an important part of learning, connection, and belonging. Through its Education and Junior Volunteer initiatives, the organization provides high school and college students with a safe, accessible way to connect with nonprofits seeking volunteer support. With more than 2,500 registered users, 100 participating nonprofits, and thousands of hours of service already completed, Volunteer Ally is building pathways for young people to contribute meaningfully to their communities.

“There is a great desire in the community to get youth involved with volunteerism in a safe and meaningful way,” Volunteer Ally shared. With support from the Takitani Foundation, the organization is responding to that desire by expanding partnerships with schools and universities and working to bring its platform into Hawaiʻi public schools. Its educational focus also reaches beyond volunteer matching through efforts such as school supply drives, which have helped provide keiki with materials for the school year while giving community members another meaningful way to contribute.

Volunteer Ally continues to explore new ways to make service accessible, including opportunities for families to volunteer together. Whether connecting a student with a local nonprofit, gathering school supplies for keiki, or mobilizing support following the Kona Low storms, the organization creates opportunities for people to show up for one another—and for young people to experience firsthand how their time and talents can make a meaningful contribution to their community.