The Volunteerism Drought

When I was in high school, I tutored a third-grade student every week at an after-school program in East Harlem. From my all-girls school on the Upper East Side, I'd head a few miles north to 15th Street and sit at a miniature table with a young girl, Together we'd read books, practice unfamiliar words and work through math problems to help her catch up to grade level. Any time I saw her eyes widen with understanding or her confidence lift with a spark of new knowledge, I'd beam with pride.

- By Mary Julia Koch

Today, far too few Americans participate in community service like this. The U.S. Census Bureau has found that the percentage of Americans who volunteer has declined in recent years. Many nonprofits struggle to recruit and retain volunteers. The s