Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer - Millions Rally - Business Corporations Merge with the Church

Business Corporations Merge with the Church

October 11, 2002

Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer -
Millions Rally to Help Others on Make A Difference Day -
Volunteer Projects Take Place Across the U.S. on October 26

Millions Rally to Help Others on Make A Difference Day - Volunteer Projects Take Place Across the U.S. on October 26

Sponsored by USA WEEKEND Magazine in partnership with the Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network, 12-year-old Make A Difference Day is the nation¡¦s largest day of service. All 50 governors support the day, with state-wide volunteer projects in Delaware, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina and Ohio.

Washington, D.C. ¡X An estimated three million Americans are expected to volunteer in their local communities on Make A Difference Day, Saturday, October 26.

Paul Newman and his food company, Newman's Own, are supporting Make A Difference Day for the 9th year. He will help select 10 volunteers to receive National Awards of $10,000 each to share with their local charities. 'Volunteerism is the best part of America,' says Newman.

October 11, 2002 - Sit Down for Some Chicken Soup and Stories of Spirit -- Authors of Chicken Soup for the Volunteer’s Soul Team up with Make A Difference Day Founders for National Discussion on Volunteerism

The combination of chicken soup, volunteers and a magazine may be more common to a community food pantry. But this fall the combination aims to spark a national dialog about the importance of volunteering and helping one another. The authors of the newly released Chicken Soup for the Volunteer’s Soul have teamed up with Make A Difference Day co-sponsors USA WEEKEND Magazine and the Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network. The trip hopes to draw attention to the amazing and selfless contributions volunteers make every day.

Washington, DC - The combination of chicken soup, volunteers and a magazine may be more common to a community food pantry. But this fall the combination aims to spark a national dialog about the importance of volunteering and helping one another. The authors of the newly released Chicken Soup for the Volunteer’s Soul have teamed up with Make A Difference Day co-sponsors USA WEEKEND Magazine and the Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network. The trip hopes to draw attention to the amazing and selfless contributions volunteers make every day.

Bank of America, Target and General Electric have purchased large quantities of the book for employees as part of a growing interest in corporate stewardship. USA WEEKEND and the Points of Light Foundation are seeing a similar trend with corporations like Campbell’s Soup, CitiGroup and Hecht’s/Strawbridge’s, which are organizing corporate Make A Difference Day projects for their employees and clients.

Speakers are available for interviews and panel discussions: John Boal, co-author of Chicken Soup for the Volunteer’s Soul. Bob Goodwin, President and CEO of the Points of Light Foundation, co-sponsor of Make A Difference Day. Marcia Bullard, President, CEO and Editor of USA WEEKEND Magazine, co-sponsor of Make A Difference Day. USA WEEKEND Magazine is distributed by more than 590 newspapers nationwide. Awarded for its journalism and design, USA WEEKEND focuses on social issues, entertainment, health, personal finance and technology. The magazine provides Newspaper in Education classroom guides to partner newspapers. USA WEEKEND Magazine is a subsidiary of Gannett Co., Inc. the international news and information company.

The Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network engages and mobilizes millions of volunteers who are helping to solve serious social problems in thousands of communities. Through a variety of programs and services, the Foundation encourages people from all walks of life — corporations, faith-based organizations, low-income communities, families, youth and older adults — to volunteer. By calling 1-800-VOLUNTEER, or visiting www.1800volunteer.org, interested persons can get connected to volunteer opportunities within their communities.
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2002/10/prweb47863.php

Volunteering's positive experiences build self-esteem, community and quality of life. In fact, scientific studies show that volunteering can help reduce stress and lengthen life.

Thousands of specific October 26 plans are listed at www.makeadifferenceday.com (click on 'Find a Project'¨). A few examples:

Celebrities Martina McBride, Vanna White and Wynonna Judd spearhead literacy and homelessness projects.
Prisoners at the Brooklyn (NY) Correctional Institution fund a child safety program that makes digital fingerprints and photographs of children.
Adult survivors of child sex abuse join a city-government sponsored "Celebrate the Child Within Day" to heal from their traumas. Place: Porterville, CA.
Delta Airlines flight attendants band together to clean up Dockweiler Beach (visible from planes arriving and departing Los Angeles International Airport).
Volunteers from every branch of government in Broward County, FL (Fort Lauderdale) take part in projects ranging from environmental cleanups to child safety seat inspections.
In New Jersey, 80,000 state employees collect 100,000 books for early readers ¡X with a push for Spanish titles.
Citigroup employees in New York City fulfill wish lists of 40 classrooms at the High School of Economics and Finance in Ground Zero's backyard.

USA WEEKEND Magazine is distributed by more than 590 newspapers nationwide. Awarded for its journalism and design, USA WEEKEND focuses on social issues, entertainment, health, personal finance and technology. The magazine provides Newspaper in Education classroom guides to partner newspapers. USA WEEKEND Magazine is a subsidiary of Gannett Co., Inc. the international news and information company.

The Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network engages and mobilizes millions of volunteers who are helping to solve serious social problems in thousands of communities. Through a variety of programs and services, the Foundation encourages people from all walks of life 'corporations, faith-based organizations, low-income communities, families, youth and older adults' to volunteer. By calling 1-800-VOLUNTEER, or visiting www.1800volunteer.org, interested persons can get connected to volunteer opportunities within their communities.

Helga West Mission Works Communications http://www.makeadifferenceday.com info@missionworkscom.com
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2002/10/prweb47865.php

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