Contact:
Fred Whiting
Points of Light Foundation
(202) 729-8177
fwhiting@pointsoflight.org

1-800-Volunteer.org Tops Century Mark
More than 100 Volunteer Centers Use System to Recruit Volunteers

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 12, 2006)— More than a hundred Volunteer Centers across the nation are now using 1-800-Volunteer.org, a bilingual volunteering portal where volunteers can find volunteer opportunities in their community and can register to use their skills to assist in disaster recovery efforts or to address year-round community based needs. 

“1-800-Volunteer makes finding volunteer opportunities in local communities easy,” says Robert Goodwin, president and CEO of the Foundation.  “Nonprofit organizations post opportunities to our national database, and local Volunteer Centers ensure quality.” 

The service, which is both a toll-free phone number and a Web site address, has been operating with a full-time staff for only two years.  As of October 1st, 116 Volunteer Centers are publicly using the system to recruit volunteers, and nearly 16 additional Volunteer Centers have signed up to recruit volunteers through the system. Within the last two years 1-800-Volunteer.org has also launched two statewide websites: www.VolunteerLouisiana.gov and www.VolunteerWashington.org and a site to recruit volunteers for disaster preparation, recovery, and response: www.HelpinDisaster.org. 

“Our volunteer management system was created in collaboration with Volunteer Centers nationwide,” says Goodwin.  “Our comprehensive solution helps optimize the efficiency and quality of volunteering at the community level, and our new skills based matching feature allows volunteers to use their expertise to serve their local community.  With tools for outreach to Spanish- and English-speaking volunteers, this is an invaluable resource for mobilizing volunteers during disaster situations, communicating with the public and meeting the complex needs of nonprofit organizations.” 

To date the system has over 125,000 volunteers who have provided nearly 450,000 hours of service to their local community.

1-800-Volunteer.org is a service of the Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to engaging more people and resources more effectively in volunteer service to help solve serious social problems.  If you are interested in finding a volunteer opportunity, go to www.1-800-Volunteer.org or call 1-800-Volunteer to find a Volunteer Center near you. 

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