POINTS OF LIGHT FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES CONNECT AMERICA PARTNER OF THE YEAR

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 8, 2004)- Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network announced today that The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) is the Connect America Partner of the Year. The award was presented to Steve Loflin, founder and executive director of NCSC, at a luncheon held in conjunction with the 2004 National Conference on Community Volunteering and National Service in Kansas City, Missouri.

The Connect America Partner of the Year award recognizes the outstanding performance of a Connect America national partner organization that enhances collaborative activities between partners to address pressing community needs.

NSCS recognizes students who excel academically during their first and second year in college. Based in Washington, DC, NSCS has over 200 chapters on college and university campuses across the country that encourage members to develop leadership skills through community service. Local chapters play an active part in helping communities respond to calls to action around significant social problems. NSCS believes that this sort of practical application is key to enhancing the undergraduate experience, and instilling a lifelong commitment to citizenship and civic engagement.

The NSCS is being honored for collaborating with other Connect America Partners such as AARP, America's Promise, Big Brothers Big Sisters, First Book, Habitat for Humanity, Internal Revenue Service, and the National Wildlife Federation. These partnerships resulted in an increase of NSCS members participating in local and national community service activities.

Connect America, an initiative of the Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network, is a network of diverse organizations working together to leverage volunteering and other resources to positively impact communities. With 123 Connect America National Partners, representing more than 221,000 local affiliates, chapters or members located in over 7,700 communities across the nation, Connect America has the capacity to reach millions of Americans.