By Michael E. McRae
President & CEO, St. Ann’s Community
April 10th, 2026
April is Volunteer Appreciation Month, and it gives me a moment to reflect on something we don’t say enough: Our volunteers are not an extension of what we do at St. Ann’s Community. They are part of who we are.
In 2025 alone, volunteers contributed 16,667 hours of their time to St. Ann’s Community. That’s the equivalent of more than $641,000 in value. More importantly, it represents thousands of moments where someone chose to show up, to connect, and to make a difference.
That’s what being Full of Life looks like here.
It’s more than energy and activity. It’s presence. It’s generosity. It’s taking the time to sit, listen, laugh, and care. Our volunteers bring that spirit into our community every day, and our elders feel it.
We’ve seen meaningful growth this year. Our volunteer base increased by 11%, with 98 active volunteers providing consistent support. We welcomed 45 new volunteers from 107 applications, and 60% of our volunteers returned from last year.
And it’s not just individuals. More than 700 people from 40 organizations joined us for 91 group volunteer experiences, a 40% increase. We welcomed 28 new partners, including organizations like Bank of America, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, SUNY Brockport, and Xerox, along with continued relationships with local schools, universities, and businesses throughout our community.
The stories behind these numbers matter most.
A young woman completed her Girl Scout Gold Award by creating activity libraries for elders at our Care Center and Rainier Grove. Longtime volunteer John Clement was recognized with the Carol Ritter Award for Volunteer Service, a reflection of the dedication we see across so many who give their time here.
I also want to recognize our volunteer Board members, who give their time, perspective, and leadership to help guide this organization forward. Their commitment ensures that St. Ann’s continues to grow and serve our community with strength and purpose.
In the Catholic tradition, we are called to serve one another. Not out of obligation, but out of love. Our volunteers live that calling in a very real way.
They remind us that caring for the most important people on earth is something we do together. To every volunteer who has walked through our doors, thank you. You bring our community to life.