PBS Reno Proudly Celebrates National Volunteer Week
RENO, NV (APR 20, 2026) – PBS Reno is honored to celebrate the heart and generosity of its volunteers, past and present, during National Volunteer Week, which takes place April 19 – 25, 2026. PBS Reno recently hosted a fun-filled ice cream social for volunteers in PBS Reno’s Community Room at 1670 N. Virginia Street.
“More than 100 volunteers share their time and talent with PBS Reno,” said Kris Perry, PBS Reno Volunteer Coordinator. “Volunteers give tours of our station, assist our production team, and contribute to numerous community events. They even wear PBS KIDS character costumes! Our education program could not reach the number of students it does each year without volunteer support. Thank you to our volunteers. They make our station and our community a better place!”
Volunteers provided 3,185 hours to PBS Reno from October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025. They complete a wide variety of work during their time at PBS Reno: they gather and prepare materials for thousands of Curiosity Classroom workshops, which PBS Reno facilitators deliver to students in nine school districts in the region. They assist with the annual PBS Reno Writers Contest, which attracts more than 2,600 stories written and illustrated by students in kindergarten through 3rd grade each Spring. Volunteers also contribute their time to multiple live and pre-recorded studio productions at PBS Reno studio by operating studio cameras, assistant directing, and floor directing during quarterly membership drives to raise critical funding to keep PBS Reno in operation.
“I have a degree in Broadcast Communications from a very long time ago,” said Mark Richardson, PBS Reno Volunteer and Docent. “I didn’t stay in Broadcasting and frankly thought I’d never use it again. When I retired I honestly never thought I’d get the professional opportunity to dust off my degree and use some of the skills, even as a volunteer. It means a lot to me how PBS Reno treats even part-time volunteers as an integral part of the team. And the best part is I also serve as a Docent and in that role I am proud of the station and relish the opportunities to tell the public the fine story of PBS Reno.”
“PBS Reno gives so much to fostering our education, curiosity, and culture that it’s only fair to help ‘pay back’ some of that by volunteering for anything that may be needed,” said Theresa Lobianco, PBS Reno Volunteer. “It’s fun volunteering! PBS is a great cause and the people you meet care about Reno and want to make it the best it can be.”
“As a former professor, I appreciate the Education Department’s commitment to providing engaging, interactive kits to local schools and am happy that my daughters and I can contribute to this effort,” said Meagan Krupa, PBS Reno Volunteer. “As lifelong fans of PBS, my daughters and I have enjoyed volunteering for PBS Reno. We highly recommend volunteering with PBS because your efforts directly benefit the community. It's an incredibly rewarding experience.”
Since 1974, National Volunteer Week has been an opportunity to recognize the impact of volunteer service and the power of volunteers to tackle society’s greatest challenges, to build stronger communities and be a force that transforms the world. It takes place every April during Global Volunteer Month. Each year, Points of Light — the leading organization dedicated to mobilizing volunteers around the world — shines a light on the people and causes that inspire us to serve. Their Daily Points of Light Award honors volunteers who lend their time, talent, and voice to make a difference in their communities.
According to Points of Light, the benefits of volunteering include:
- Reduces stress
- Combats depression
- Prevents feelings of isolation
- Increases confidence
- Gives a sense of purpose
- Ignites passion
- Makes you happy
“As we celebrate National Volunteer Week, especially during the milestone year of America’s 250th anniversary, we recognize the enduring spirit of service that has shaped our nation and the growing need for more volunteers in communities across the country,” said Jennifer Sirangelo, President and CEO of Points of Light. “Volunteering remains one of the most powerful ways individuals can strengthen connection and create change in their communities. When we volunteer, we continue a legacy of action, compassion, and shared responsibility for our nation and future generations.”
About PBS Reno
In fiscal year 2024-2025, PBS Reno reached 592,189 monthly viewers in northern and central Nevada and northeastern California across several platforms including three broadcast channels (PBS Reno 5.1, Reno Create 5.2, and PBS KIDS on PBS Reno 5.3), a YouTube channel, YouTube TV, online, livestreams, and digital platforms. PBS Reno provides PBS national programming and award-earning, locally-produced content, with many local segments posted weekly to PBS Reno’s YouTube channel. PBSReno.org provides engaging interactive content, including the video portal at watch.PBSReno.org that streams all locally-produced content and most PBS national content. PBS Reno serves students, teachers, parents and caregivers through immersive educational services including Curiosity Classroom workshops that bring classroom lessons to life with standards-based lessons and activities. Through the support of local corporations and foundations, as well as thousands of individual members, PBS Reno has been delivering public television and educational services to the communities it serves since September 29, 1983.
About Points of Light
Points of Light is a nonpartisan, global nonprofit organization that inspires, equips, and mobilizes millions of people to take action that changes the world through volunteering and civic engagement. Through work with nonprofits, companies and social impact leaders, the organization galvanizes volunteers to meet critical needs for healthier and more equitable communities. As the world’s largest organization dedicated to increasing volunteer service, Points of Light engages more than 3.8 million volunteers across 32 countries.
Contact us:
Membership Questions: membership@pbsreno.org
Programming Hotline: programming@pbsreno.org
Phone: 775.600.0555
Address: 1670 N. Virginia St. • Reno NV 89503