Volunteer New York!, the Lower Hudson Valley organization that drives volunteerism, philanthropy and connectivity in our communities’ non-profit agencies, has welcomed a new executive director.
Polly Lagana’s leadership at VNY began in mid-July.
A resident of Westchester County, Lagana joined Volunteer New York! after leading the T200 Foundation, a global network advancing women in technology. Lagana had previously worked as chief resource development officer at the Westchester-based STEM Alliance and director positions at Student Leadership Network, where she helped scale college access and girls education programs that reached thousands of students across New York City.
I recently spoke with Lagana about her leadership at Volunteer New York!, a longtime partner of lohud and The Journal News, where I also serve as a director.
Here are some highlights of our exchange:
As you begin your tenure as executive director of Volunteer New York!, what drives your enthusiasm?
Lagana: Everything — so much at Volunteer New York! fuels my enthusiasm and passion for the mission. This organization is special because we have the privilege of uniting and connecting all aspects of our shared community.
It’s also a huge honor to join at such a pivotal moment in VNY’s history — our 75th Anniversary. Our team is building on 75 years of service and impact while also looking ahead to new possibilities for bold community transformation. That unique mix of legacy and momentum is incredibly energizing.
My first weeks have been a good kind of whirlwind. Recently we held our 9/11 Day of Service at Monroe University, where Monroe students and community members packed more than 51,400 meals for families in need in Westchester. Seeing college students on their first day of school — choosing to spend a Friday afternoon giving back — was so inspiring. The enthusiasm was contagious. Getting our next generation involved in service fuels my enthusiasm for this work.
I’m also deeply inspired by the breadth of Volunteer New York’s! Programs and our massive reach into the community. Many people only see a small piece of our work, when they come to our Volunteer Service Awards or attend a volunteer project. We have so much to offer a community member or business in Westchester, and that’s very inspiring to me.
For example, Leadership Westchester has been shaping community leaders for decades. Our Board Boot Camp prepares individuals to serve effectively in nonprofit governance. Our Emerging Nonprofits program supports new organizations just as they’re finding their footing. And our Volunteer Service Awards remain the largest volunteer recognition event in the county — a moment that uplifts not only outstanding volunteers but also the smaller, lower-resourced nonprofits whose work might otherwise go unnoticed.
What opportunities do you see for volunteerism and community leadership in the Lower Hudson Valley?
Lagana: Volunteering is one of the most powerful ways to build connections, meet new people and gain a deeper understanding of what it takes to create change in a community — all while meeting the increasing, and often urgent, need in our community.
Our team has the opportunity to leverage the cause of volunteerism as a unifying force in a time, especially at a time, when many feel isolated or divided.
Volunteering with VNY is a win-win: participants gain skills and connections, while our community organizations benefit from the talent and energy of our volunteers.
I also see enormous potential for impact with our next generation, in particular, who is essential to shaping a thriving future for our community. Embedding service into education not only gives students valuable experiences but also instills a lifelong commitment to civic responsibility.
And there are so many “hidden benefits” of volunteering — building skills that translate into careers, creating pathways for leadership and fostering resilience. We’re living through one of the largest transfers of wealth and civic responsibility in our nation’s history — volunteerism will be central to making sure that transfer results in stronger, kinder, more connected communities.
For example, our flagship 9/11 Day of Service event, which unites thousands of volunteers each year around a shared mission of remembrance and impact. Another example is our RISE program, which empowers young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to give back. Beyond that, I see enormous potential for volunteerism to serve as a bridge — linking the public and private sectors in ways that strengthen the entire region. When businesses, governments, nonprofits, and residents come together, the results are extraordinary.
Increased corporate engagement is an area where we have tremendous potential. Volunteer New York! already partners with industry leaders as Corporate Champions, including Regeneron, Mastercard, PepsiCo and the New York Power Authority — to name a few. VNY! is an expert in developing employee volunteer programs, days of service and other creative and meaningful outreach efforts that address vital issues in our community. Employee satisfaction is proven to be higher when companies provide opportunities to give back. One of my goals is to engage even more businesses in our work in these areas.
As you consider our community’s needs for volunteerism, what are your top priorities?
Lagana: Increasing the capacity of volunteers to support the greatest needs in our community is a top priority. We are facing a time of great need, from food insecurity to education access. Our work uses people power, from both the general community and corporate community, to solve problems, build capacity and create a stronger sense of connection.
Another top priority is strengthening the connections between the different sectors and stakeholders in our community. Our region is home to incredible companies and institutions that want to make a difference. Volunteer New York! is uniquely positioned to link those strongholds with the communities that need them most. When businesses, government, and nonprofits all come together, real solutions emerge.
As need grows, we must get creative to leverage volunteerism to make an even bolder impact and lift up communities who need it most. It also means embracing the realities of a more virtual world by creating meaningful touchpoints that connect people both online and in person.
Another important part of the work is sharing the story of our organization and highlighting all the opportunities we have to offer our community members. Volunteer New York! touches people’s lives in countless ways, but many people only see one slice of our work. Maybe they came to our website once to sign up for a service project. Or they graduated from Leadership Westchester. Some people have only participated in our RSVP program for seniors. Some have only seen our Board Boot Camp. Each of these touchpoints is transformative on its own, but together they form a bigger, more powerful story of impact. Sharing that story more widely is critical.
Ultimately, my priority is to ensure that volunteering continues to be a unifying force in addressing our greatest challenges — whether that’s reducing isolation, expanding opportunities or sparking innovation.
What role do you seek to see Volunteer New York! play as a community leader?
Lagana: With our focus and expertise on volunteerism, Volunteer New York! is the essential element for the organizations in our community to serve those who need it most.
During my first week, I attended our Volunteer Managers Breakfast, where we bring together all our nonprofit partners to network, share solutions and strategize for the future. One of the volunteer managers came up to congratulate me.
“We could never do what we do without Volunteer New York,” the manager said.
At its core, Volunteer New York! exists to break barriers, empower leaders and engage volunteers. As we engage in a particularly intense period in our history — socially, politically, economically — I believe Volunteer New York! has the power to connect people at the level where real change happens.
Volunteer New York! will also play a unique role in creating new generations of philanthropists who give not only their financial resources but also their time and talent. Through programs like Leadership Westchester, we’ve proven that volunteerism can develop leaders who are equipped to serve across every sector.
Volunteerism should be multi-generational, universal and easily accessible. Our role at Volunteer New York! is also to champion inclusivity by making sure everyone can serve, including seniors, youth, individuals with disabilities, families and anyone interested in giving back.
What should supporters of Volunteer New York! know about you and your leadership?
Lagana: At my core, I’m a connector. I believe deeply in the power of people — all people — to make our community stronger. Volunteering has been transformational in my own life. It’s what led me to leave the private sector years ago for nonprofit leadership and help create stronger connections with the public and private sector. It’s how my family built a community when we were new to the area. And it’s a way for me to empower others, especially the next generation, to give back to those who need it most.
I also am a leader who is constantly listening and learning from those around me. During my first few weeks, I asked each member of my team for their advice and received incredible insights: be curious, slow down and observe, make connections and don’t be afraid to ask for help. I take that wisdom seriously.
You will also see me out in the field and in the community, probably wearing Volunteer New York! gear, at our programs and projects. For me, leadership means being part of the action, seeing how change is made and telling the story of Volunteer New York! everywhere I go. You cannot spark growth, get creative or build people power without experiencing the work firsthand.
Supporters should also know that I always go back to data. While I love sharing the human side of volunteering, I’m equally committed to showing the numbers behind the stories and letting stakeholders know where we are seeing measurable results and how our events, corporate partners and volunteer engagement programming are making substantive impact.
I’m also a grateful leader. I am deeply appreciative of how hard our staff, board, corporate partners and volunteers who work to live out this mission of volunteering every day, and to our supporters, who make our work as a nonprofit organization possible.
Ed Forbes is senior director for opinion and engagement for the USA TODAY Network Northeast, working with publications including lohud.com and The Journal News, the Democrat and Chronicle and NorthJersey.com and The Record.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Volunteer New York! has a new leader. These are her hopes and priorities | Opinion
Reporting by Ed Forbes, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
