Established in New York City on March 8, 1896, Volunteers of America (VOA) is now celebrating its 130th anniversary. Founders Ballington and Maud Booth envisioned a movement dedicated to reaching and uplifting the American people. 

Filled with compassion and conviction, Maud Booth pioneered prison reform. An innovative leader, she didn’t merely visit prisons — she founded the Volunteer Prison League and opened Hope Hall, one of the first halfway houses for people leaving prison, providing housing, structure and community to support them in rebuilding their lives.

“Every time someone finds a way out of homelessness, our whole community grows stronger and becomes a healthier, more hopeful place for everyone. That belief guides everything we do: meeting each person where they are, without judgment, and supporting them as they rebuild their lives.” — Christie Holderegger, President and CEO 

“Now in our second century, we are one of the nation’s largest and most comprehensive human services organizations, touching the lives of more than 2 million people annually in communities across the country,” confirms Christie Holderegger, president and CEO of Volunteers of America Northern California and Northern Nevada. “Locally, our mission is to improve individual lives, instill hope, increase self-worth and facilitate independence through quality housing, employment and related supportive services.”

VOA NCNN serves more than 9,000 individuals each year, including families, veterans, seniors and individuals who have experienced homelessness. In 2025, this local affiliate served 8,127 single adults, 1,192 veterans, 2,386 seniors, 196 families, 955 youth, and prepared and served 730,000 meals. 

“Leaders across VOA carry Maud’s legacy forward by serving with passion and a shared commitment to making a difference,” notes Ana Bankert, vice president of development and marketing. “Christie, our CEO, often says, ‘Every time someone finds a way out of homelessness, our whole community grows stronger and becomes a healthier, more hopeful place for everyone.’ That belief guides everything we do: meeting each person where they are, without judgment, and supporting them as they rebuild their lives.”

This work would not be possible without strong community support from individual donors, corporate partners, foundations, other organizations, local and state government, and more. “We would love to host anyone interested in joining us on a tour to learn more,” Bankert says. 

VOA NCNN will continue to grow partnerships, highlighting the collaborative work that enables them to help change lives. They’ll also invest in technology and, even more importantly, their staff so that their work can continue for 100 more years.