Volunteers treasured every day of the year

National Volunteer Week, April 10-16, is a way for everyone in our country to encourage and acknowledge volunteer participation, inspiration and recognition. To that end we wish to thank all DuPage Children’s Museum volunteers for all that they do.

In the past year, more than 650 DuPage Children’s Museum volunteers invested more than 23,000 hours of service in the museum to provide high-quality early learning experiences for children.

The museum benefits from a wide range of age, experience and talent — from the Washington Junior High School students participating in our entry-level volunteer training program to one of our young audience’s favorite story readers, Mr. Eric, an octogenarian.

Whether facilitating the museum experience with visitors or helping us extend our outreach efforts to children and families that face physical or economic barriers to attendance, DCM volunteers make our mission a reality. From behind-the-scenes work in constructing and maintaining the exhibits and facility, to providing much needed office support for administrative tasks, volunteers make it happen.

In supporting the museum’s efforts in advocacy for young children, assisting with fundraising efforts and helping with special events, volunteers help us communicate to a wider audience the importance of investing in early learning.

When taken in this context, a single week does not seem to be nearly enough to recognize the time, talent and energy volunteers contribute on a daily basis.

So, while we try to thank them every day for all that they do, please let me use this letter to more visibly express my sincere gratitude on behalf of the museum and the children and families that we serve, for the efforts of our community volunteers.

Susan Broad

Executive director

DuPage Children’s Museum

Naperville