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Where Passion Meets Action: Welcome To Uncover Garden Empire
My name is Diana Reynolds, and I’ve had the privilege of working with Uncover KC for several years. For a long time, I searched for purpose and fulfillment in my career, and one unexpected day I found it. That was the day I stepped foot into the Dino Lab Exhibit in Union Station.
The walls were all lined with glass, tables covered with rocks, fossils, and volunteers, some seasoned paleontologists, in white lab coats lightly dusted with dirt. A sure sign they loved what they were doing. One volunteer waved me over to what looked like an ordinary rock. With delicate tools, he revealed something extraordinary, the fossilized skull of an animal that had been hidden underground for ages.
As my eyes lit up in excitement, I noticed a young boy on the other side of the glass wearing the exact same expression. At that moment, it hit me. This is what volunteerism does. It doesn’t just fill a role, it ignites curiosity, sparks joy, and connects people across generations.
The volunteers in that lab weren’t just cleaning fossils. They were building bridges between science and the public, and between passion and service. And I knew, without a doubt, that I was exactly where I was meant to be.
What’s Next?
After several years as Uncover’s Vice-President of Volunteer Management in Kansas City, my family and I moved back to my roots in New York. It was a bittersweet change that brought me closer to family, but meant leaving behind a growing passion. I wasn’t ready to give up on helping nonprofits.
Last year, we expanded the Uncover network to including Volusia County, Florida. Now, I’m thrilled to share that I’ll be leading the launch of Uncover Garden Empire (Uncover GE) in New York and New Jersey.
Uncover has long connected nonprofits, volunteers, and communities, showing what’s possible when the right tools, support, and opportunities are in place. We’ve seen it work in Kansas City. We’re seeing it work in Volusia County. And now, it’s time for the East Coast. In Kansas City alone, we’ve recorded over 240,000 service hours with 84,000 volunteers since 2013, resulting in over 8 million dollars service value for nonprofits.
Nonprofits here are doing incredible work, but many struggle with sustainable volunteer engagement and the capacity to run thriving programs. Nationwide, 45% of nonprofits report difficulty recruiting and retaining volunteers, and over 60% lack systems to track engagement effectively. This gap limits their ability to grow.
HOW WE HELP
- Volunteer Management Services: We design and implement custom volunteer engagement strategies that reduce admin work and improve retention (no more living in spreadsheets!).
- Real World Learning: We bring hands-on volunteer experiences into classrooms. Recently, we partnered with a local animal shelter, turning students into toy-makers by braiding T-shirts into chew toys — showing kids they can create change now and inspiring a lifelong commitment to service.
- Corporate Social Responsibility: We help companies strengthen their teams while making a tangible difference in local communities through meaningful service opportunities.
- Community Engagement Support: From one-time events to ongoing initiatives, we equip nonprofits with the systems and resources to maximize their impact.
Our model is simple but powerful: when volunteers are supported and empowered, they transform communities. With UGE, nonprofits free up staff time, improve volunteer retention, and see measurable community impact. Imagine spending less time on logistics and more time advancing your mission, that’s the future we’re building.
Let’s Talk About Your Needs
I’d love to hear about the challenges you face every day and your vision for the future. Contact me at [email protected] to explore how Uncover GE can help you build a stronger, more engaged community.
Not ready for a meeting? Fill out our quick Community Engagement Survey or simply reach out to start a conversation, we’re here to listen, support, and help your organization thrive.
Together, let’s uncover your organization’s full potential!