Volunteer Illinois

Red text on a white background with a red union bug in the center of the button

James Thompson was a Republican governor of Illinois who served four terms in office from 1976-1991. The Governor’s Office of Voluntary Action was created under Thompson’s tenure as governor in 1979, under the original name Office of Voluntary Citizens Participation. The commission has undergone a series of name changes over the decades, but the purpose of the commission has remained consistent: to promote community services, encourage volunteering throughout the state, and to be a coordinating service for volunteer needs. Now called the Serve Illinois Commission, the group is housed in the Department of Human Services for the state government and still works to promote volunteerism in the state of Illinois, as well as supporting the AmeriCorps program.