Volunteering is good for you and your community

Main image: Regence employees packed back-to-school backpacks at the Boys & Girls Club

It feels good to give back to the community, but does that “good feeling” translate to improved mental and physical health? Recent studies have shown measurable improvements in the health and well-being of people who volunteer.

One study looked at whether volunteering made people happy or whether happier people tend to volunteer. The data showed volunteering had a positive impact on people’s happiness. The benefits of volunteering that may contribute to positive health effects, include:

• Physical activity
• Sense of purpose
• Learning new skills
• Connecting with other people

Although it is not clear exactly why volunteering improves the volunteer’s quality of life, studies show it does. At Regence, hundreds of our employees volunteer every year. Some volunteer outside of work and others volunteer through opportunities planned by our corporate social responsibility team.

Below are four videos highlighting Regence employees who volunteer and make a difference in their communities across our four-state footprint.

Meals on Wheels

Big Brothers Big Sisters

Eastside Community Center

Friends of the Children

Amplifying the generosity of Regence employee volunteers and giving

Regence’s corporate foundation supports employee giving year-round, including a 50% match on employee donations to eligible 501(c)3 nonprofits. In 2022, our foundation also introduced a volunteer rewards program called Dollars for Doers to increase the impact of employee volunteers. Through the program, when colleagues log their volunteer time, the foundation directs $20 per hour to a cause of their choice, up to $400 in a year. We’re proud of our employees who share our commitment to the communities we serve.