Atlanta, January 17, 2011 — GenerationOn , the youth activation enterprise of Points of Light , has named Concetta Bencivenga as executive director. The global youth service movement ignites the power of all kids to make their mark on the world. With Bencivenga’s leadership experience and lifelong devotion to service, generationOn will continue its momentum into 2012, inspiring young people across the country to create positive change.
“We are excited to welcome Concetta’s passion and fresh ideas to lead generationOn into the new year,” said Michelle Nunn, CEO of Points of Light. “She brings strong leadership, a history of innovation and enthusiastic energy as we continue to help kids, tweens and teens build a foundation for lifelong service and giving.”
Bencivenga joins generationOn after nine years of working with youth at the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia. Please Touch Museum was the first children’s museum in the U.S. to target families and children 7-years-old and younger. During her time at the museum, Bencivenga wore many hats including executive vice president, chief financial officer and vice president of finance and administration. Simultaneously, Bencivenga served as an adjunct at the University of Pennsylvania, Fels Institute of Government where she developed and taught a course on nonprofit financial management.
Bencivenga’s experience also includes the strategic consulting firm, Public Financial Management; program director of Where There Be Dragons, Inc., a six-week national tour of Thailand; and Redwood National Park, where she served as a consultant for the National Parks Business Plan Initiative.
In addition to her wide range of leadership experience, Bencivenga served as a Peace Corps volunteer and continued her service an employee and founding member of the Peace Corps Fund. Her devotion to service extends to include serving as a board member for The Ideal School of Manhattan and the National Alumni Association at the University of Texas. She offered translator services at both the 1996 Olympic Games and 1995 New York City Marathon. In 1993, she volunteered with Mother Teresa and Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India.
Bencivenga holds a bachelor’s degree from Loyola College in Baltimore, Md., and a master’s of public affairs from the University of Texas at Austin.
GenerationOn is helping kids, young people develop into healthy, empowered, creative problem-solvers and global leaders by experiencing their power and potential through service, service learning and giving back. GenerationOn currently includes more than 30 youth programs, 1,800 Kids Care Clubs and thousands of schools that engage more than two million young people in all 50 states and internationally.
About Points of Light
Points of Light is the world’s leading volunteer organization, with more than 20 years of history and a bi-partisan presidential legacy. Our mission is to inspire, equip and mobilize people to take action that changes the world. We connect people to their power to make a meaningful difference, by providing access to tools, resources and opportunities to help volunteers use their time, talent, voice and money to meet the critical needs of our communities. We are organized to innovate, incubate and activate new ideas through our action networks, including: HandsOn Network, the largest network of 250 local volunteer centers across the country and around the world; generationOn, the youth service movement that ignites the power of kids to make their mark on the world; AmeriCorps Alums, the national service alumni network that activates the next generation of service leaders; and Points of Light Corporate Institute, which enables companies to engage their employees and customers in service. For more information, visit www.PointsofLight.org.
We put people at the center of change.