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

Points of Light Foundation Welcomes Benevolink to “We Are Family” Campaign
Partnership will provide nonprofit fundraising support and help engage consumers

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 14, 2007) — The Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network has partnered with Benevolink to help engage nonprofits and consumers in its “We Are Family” (WAF) initiative. Benevolink is a leading philanthropy platform and social networking community that connects consumers, corporations and causes to improve communities.

WAF is a project designed to provide support for victims of the 2005 hurricanes received a major boost today, as Northrop Grumman contributed $275,000 to support the effort. It is a collaboration of the Foundation and Grammy-winning producer Rodney Jerkins and involves the production of a CD-DVD featuring an all-star remake of the Sister Sledge hit, “We Are Family”. Artists showcased on the title track include: Ciara, Chris Brown, Patti LaBelle, Ray J. Brian McKnight, Sister Sledge, Mary Mary, BeBe Winans, Lyfe Jennings, George Clinton, Christina Milian and Branford Marsalis. The CD-DVD will be released on February 27. For details, visit www.wearefamily2007.com.

Beginning in late February, Benevolink will provide WAF’s participating partners with professionally designed, turnkey marketing templates to download from the Benevolink Web site — free of charge — to help organizations promote their WAF fundraising efforts to supporters. Templates will include easy-to-customize flyers, e-mail copy and postcards. In addition, Benevolink’s free consumer “stop and give” program provides nonprofits an additional fundraising resource to share with their supporters — a year-round way to generate charitable, unrestricted funds from companies by leveraging consumer shopping.

Through the Benevolink program, consumer members earn charitable rebates — an average of seven percent of the purchase price — as they shop for everyday items such as gifts, clothing, travel and nearly every conceivable product category through Benevolink’s 400+ retailers. Participating retailers donate the contribution to their consumer member, who in turn gives the earned donation to the charities of their choice four times a year through the Benevolink Web site with a couple of clicks.

The Benevolink platform also makes it easy for individuals to give their own money without their credit card, track their giving and connect with other like-minded individuals and causes through its new social networking features. The program is free to nonprofits and consumers. For more information about Benevolink, go to www.benevolink.com.

The Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network supports the vital work of millions of volunteers who are helping to solve serious social problems in thousands of communities nationwide. For more information about local volunteer opportunities, call 1-800-VOLUNTEER or visit www.1-800-VOLUNTEER.org.

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