Frisco's Municipal Volunteer Program has flourished in the last eight years, mostly because of an online volunteer management system from Better Impact. Since the city implemented the system software in 2006, the volunteer program went from 336 registered volunteers to more than 5,000 in 2013. Kristina Daniel, Frisco's volunteer coordinator, said she was shocked to see the growth. "It just depends on your generation coming in, but the technology obviously was a huge benefit to get people to sign up," she said. "It gave them the access at home to do what they needed to do to be able to volunteer." Once registered in the system, volunteers can sign up to work at various city events or other city activities. The system also tracks the number of hours volunteers work, which helps the city apply for grants and accreditations, Daniel said. Another aspect that has helped the program's growth is the expansion and creation of more city events, Daniel said. For instance, Frisco's annual Fourth of July celebration, Freedom Fest, expanded this year, and more than 100 volunteers worked the event. Frisco resident Tracie Shipman was one of the volunteers at Freedom Fest who worked in the hospitality booth with Daniel. She said she enjoys meeting people who are visiting the city while she gives her time. "I really like being able to tell people about Frisco, giving suggestions on places they might go to eat or go shop," she said. Shipman said she has volunteered in Frisco for about 20 years. She said volunteering is about giving back to her home, though she will always get back more than she gives. "When I hear people say positive things about the city, I know that I played a part in creating that positive experience," Shipman said. Many of the city's volunteers are long-term like Shipman and are dedicated to helping the city, Daniel said. "I just truly believe if you want to get involved in the city and see what's going on that this is the best way to do that," she said.