By Trish Svoboda

The fourth annual Give Back Kansas Challenge is ready for Kansas employers to start registering. The eight-week-long challenge will take place from April 1st-May 31st.

The Give Back Kansas Challenge offers a chance for regular volunteering employees to gain acknowledgment by recording and submitting their hours. Those new to volunteering will be encouraged to explore fresh opportunities that could foster additional skills or passion for their work or community involvement.

“The Challenge is a fun and exciting way for participants to learn more about nonprofits in their communities and to help them out by giving of their time and abilities,” said Nola Brown, executive director of Volunteer Kansas, which partners with the Kansas Volunteer Commission to promote the Challenge to Kansans each year.

Participation in the Challenge is free and open to all employers in Kansas, including for-profit businesses, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and government entities. Employers must register in advance to take part, and they report volunteer hours through an online portal managed by their designated point of contact.

Employers are categorized into three groups based on the number of entries received and company size: large, medium, and small. Winners of the Challenge are determined by calculating the average number of volunteer hours completed per employer during the Challenge period. The top achievers in each size category will have Volunteer Kansas donate $1,000 to the nonprofit organization of their choosing on their behalf. These winning employers will also be invited to a ceremony where they will receive recognition and a ceremonial check presentation.

Kansas employers who would like to participate need to register at http://bit.ly/Givebackks by March 22.