Volunteer Health Benefits: The Surprising Science behind Showing Up in Fountain Hills

It all started with an invitation to have a drink.

When Daniel Weiner accepted his uncle’s offer to meet at the Fountain Hills Elks Lodge, it was a simple nod to family. But Daniel is a person who keeps his ears open to the needs of the community. At the lodge, he met Ralph Christofferson, the Elks service project coordinator, and learned about the Elks' monthly commitment to homeless veterans. And as the service project coordinator for Four Peaks Rotary Club, Daniel quickly recognized a perfect opportunity to pivot. The Four Peaks Rotary Club wanted to send care packages to our oversees military service members; however, the process has become increasingly complex.

Ralph Christofferson, Elks Lodge service project coordinator, gives packing instructions to Four Peaks Rotarians.

And so, on a beautiful Friday afternoon in May, a group of willing Four Peaks Rotarians met at the Elks Lodge to assemble 100 care kits for homeless vets, filling drawstring backpacks with essential summer survival supplies the members had donated -- such as lip balm, sunscreen, cooling towels, socks, and snacks. This helped the Elks with their monthly commitment to care for this community, proving that in Fountain Hills, a casual conversation can spark a movement.

I. More than Like-Minded People: The Chemistry of the “Helper’s High”

This sounds like a simple case of like-minded people making life better for the less fortunate, but the science says it’s much more. 

While these volunteers were focused on assembling the kits, their bodies were reacting to the act of service itself. Research from Johns Hopkins University has found that the social interaction and task-oriented nature of volunteering releases dopamine—a biological reward for altruism. This "Helper’s High" acts as a natural stress-reducer, creating a resilient, connected mindset that serves the volunteer’s mental health long after the work is finished.

II. The Legacy Garden: The Biological Benefit of Generativity

And while task-oriented volunteer projects are great for reducing stress, projects that span the generations can provide a completely different health boost. Fountain Hills is often (and perhaps falsely) characterized by its high concentration of retired residents, but projects like the McDowell Mountain Elementary Garden prove that our town’s "seniority" is actually its greatest strategic advantage.

The project grew from a Rotarian noticing an untended garden bed and envisioning a Rotary Interact club. That spark brought together both Rotary clubs in Fountain Hills, master gardeners from the Fountain Hills Garden, the Fountain Hills Kiwanis, and was funded with grants from the Fountain Hills Community Foundation and Cox Charities.

Signage created by SteelCrest Architectural Designs bears the name of the newly refurbished McDowell Mountain Elementary School garden and the various community organizations and businesses which contributed to its revival.

Today, a school staff member supervises a Garden Club of nearly 20 students who meet before school and are learning how rewarding and nutritious growing your own food can be. 

This is a prime example of "Generativity"—the act of older generations mentoring the younger. According to the Mayo Clinic, adults who engage in these multi-generational projects experience improved cognitive health and a lower risk of depression. By planting seeds for the next generation, these volunteers are literally fortifying their own long-term happiness.

III. The Pre-Dawn Tradition: The Physical Dividend of Belonging

If mentoring the next generation provides a cognitive boost, participating in a legacy that honors our past offers a physical one. While the Four Peaks Rotary Memorial Day flag installation project is deeply heartfelt in its origin, the science shows it is also quite literally good for your heart. 

This project originated with Bill Beamish, a dedicated Rotarian who had a profound heart for those lost on 9/11. Although Bill passed away in 2021, he left an incredible legacy by creating an annual event that has become a beloved community tradition.

Four Peaks Rotarians and members of the community pause before the 2026 Memorial Day flag installation project before breaking into teams to install 4,000 flags around Fountain Park and Avenue of the Fountains.

My own history with this project began in 2019. After accepting an invitation to attend a Four Peaks Rotary meeting. I decided to help. I brought my camera along —because, well, that’s just what I do. Watching that sea of 4,000 flags rise in the morning light provided an immediate infusion of community pride, satisfaction and belonging that I didn’t know I needed.

Scientifically, there is a physical "functional ability" dividend that takes place beyond that emotional lift. AmeriCorps research indicates that older adults who volunteer regularly are among the healthiest in the nation, reporting lower rates of heart disease. The movement, the camaraderie, and the pride of the work act as a "silent" health insurance policy.

The Symbiotic Pulse: Why we all thrive together

While these health benefits explain why we feel so good individually, they also explain why our town functions so well collectively. In Fountain Hills, we aren't just a collection of volunteers; we are a rare breed caught in a cycle of healthy, community-wide momentum. It is a unique characteristic of our town that service is addictive—not because of the praise, but because of the way it recalibrates our own sense of well-being.

I tell these stories because it’s something I’ve loved to do since I was ten years old. They say if you "do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life," and I am living proof that is true. Experts estimate economic value of a single volunteer hour may have surpassed $35.00 (2026), but the true wealth of Fountain Hills is found in the way we "show up" for one another, which beautifully and unwittingly  improves our own lives in the process.