Early bird registration rates end on Friday, April 27, at 11:59 p.m. After that, prices go up and you could miss an opportunity to join leaders from the service sector to learn and cultivate new ideas, discuss the challenges we all face and work together to create the next generation of service.
This year’s Conference, convened by Points of Light June 18-20 in Chicago, will create solutions to reignite civic spirit, nurture real change and channel the combined resources of the public and private sector to coalesce communities around national service and volunteerism like never before.
Marquee speakers include former first lady Barbara Bush; U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan; Gen. George W. Casey, former chief of staff of the U.S. Army; Joshua DuBois, executive director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships; Laura Ling, journalist, host, E! Investigates, co-author, “Somewhere Inside”; Stan Litow, vice president, Corporate Citizenship & Corporate Affairs and president, IBM International Foundation; Eboo Patel, founder and president, Interfaith Youth Core; Paul Schmitz, CEO, Public Allies and White House Council for Community Solutions; Mark K. Shriver, senior vice president for U.S. Programs, Save the Children; and Wendy Spencer, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service.
We’ll trade current practices for new ideas that lead to a brighter path for the future. Our goal is to activate 21st century volunteers, helping them use their time, talent, voice and money to build healthy communities in vibrant, participatory societies.
The Conference is supported by Chase, the official economy and military track sponsor, and Target, the official excellence in education sponsor.
Early Bird Registration for Conference Ends This Friday!
It’s that time of year again! Not only are we on the verge of spring (and the dreaded pollen season), but we are getting closer to the National Conference on Volunteering & Service! All are invited to join us in Chicago, June 18-20, for the world’s largest gathering of volunteer and service leaders from the nonprofit, corporate and government sectors. The conference is full of new opportunities for intimate, thought-provoking conversations about national service, social entrepreneurship and hands-on action.
Our annual event provides attendees with an opportunity to learn, connect and be re-inspired for volunteering through a wide range of exciting and informative plenary sessions, workshops, special events, service projects, exhibits, specialized corporate tracks and more. Attendees can look forward to an enhanced virtual experience, unique learning formats, more diverse content, incredible networking opportunities, and the much loved Exhibit Hall!
We’re thrilled to be headed to the Windy City- Chicago!
As Mayor Rahm Emmanuel said, “Chicago is not only the city of Big Shoulders, we are the city of big hearts.”
Chicago has a remarkable history of combining service with innovation. Continue to check back to read more about the city we’re so pleased to have hosting us and all it has to offer.
Are you ready to pave the way for a fresh approach to civic engagement? We’re looking forward to seeing you at Conference this summer!
I Get a Better Quality of Life Because I Give Quality to Life Through Service
Today’s turning point story is by Kelly Wessels, the chief operations officer at United Community Action Network (UCAN), a Community Action Agency in Southern Oregon.
A turning point indicates an intentional change in direction, momentum and impetus… and for me that happens daily. I come from a legacy of service – my mother was a VISTA, I have been a Senior Corps director, and now I am sponsor for a VISTA Team, AmeriCorps Team and four Senior Corps projects. I learned from childhood that we all matter, we all can serve, and our purpose is to be of service to people, to the environment, to other living things, because we were created to be interdependent to sustain our lives.
I am COO for a Community Action Agency in rural Oregon, and now, more than ever, I believe that service is an action that is powerful, changes lives and reminds us of the incredible potential we all possess. Our communities’ survival relies on service in action, from fulfilling the needs for basic life, to fulfilling the needs of the human spirit. The giver is the receiver when service is in action – I get a better quality of life because I give quality to life through service. Each face I greet, hand I touch, story I listen to and action I take to mobilize resources makes life better. Service should be an activity that is as much a part of our lives as brushing our teeth. We should do it because it’s good for us… and good for those around us.
Kelly and her family spend time together volunteering with music programs for youth, athletics, and activities that serve the homeless and provide advocacy for family wellness.
Today’s guest post is written by Jennifer M. Highsmith, Senior Director, Corporate Training & Consulting for The Points of Light Corporate Institute.
Employee volunteer programs (EVPs) have a significant impact on businesses and the community, but the impact on employees is far greater.
Studies indicate that organizations who engage employees actually outperform those who do not.
Why is that? The answer lies with the employees that are engaged in the program.
EVPs are not just effective in tackling community needs and addressing problems, but they are also advantageous to the workplaces where they exist. Successful EVPs have a direct effect on employees and business operations.
With more and more businesses operating with decentralized offices, workers working from their homes or on flexible schedules, EVPs can be an essential tool in strengthening workforce culture. Just look at the benefits for employees:
Increases employee performance, loyalty, morale, recruitment, retention and reduces absenteeism
Develops employee skills and competencies such as teamwork, communication, planning, project management, problem solving, budgeting and listening skills
Spurs innovation and creativity
Helps build community and cohesion inside the workforce
Provides leadership opportunities and improves employee relations
Helps motivate the workforce
Attributes to higher levels of life satisfaction, sense of control over life and feeling physically and emotionally healthier (UnitedHealthcare / VolunteerMatch Do Good Live Well Study. 2010)
And there’s more.
The Deloitte 2011 Volunteer IMPACT Survey found that more than one-third (37 percent) of those who frequently volunteer are more likely to be very satisfied with the progression of their career. These and other findings from the survey suggest a link between volunteerism and the quality of employee engagement as well as favorable employee perceptions of organizational culture.
With these benefits, EVPs are a huge win for businesses – strengthening communities and engaging employees all while increasing revenues and contributing to the bottom line.
Learn more about EVPs and some of the innovative practices associated with them during the Points of Light Corporate Institute’s free webinar on Thursday, April 26, 2012, 1:00-2:00 p.m. EST. The webinar features Corporate Engagement Award of Excellence winner McKesson.
McKesson was honored for building a strong and effective volunteer program that helps build healthy communities and provide a better quality of life for residents. McKesson’s EVP uniquely aligns with the company’s business mission “to create better health for all.”
Learn more about the practices that have led to the success of their EVP and the many lessons they learned along the way. Register Now!
For additional information or for assistance with developing or enhancing your EVP, contact Jennifer Highsmith, senior director of corporate training and consulting at Points of Light Corporate Institute at [email protected].
Change Notes: When University of Phoenix Employees Volunteer, Everybody Wins
Friends,
Points of Light is pleased to count University of Phoenix among its Leadership Partners. In 2011, its parent company, Apollo Group, and the University of Phoenix Foundation committed more than $20 million to local community initiatives with a focus on school and workforce readiness, community engagement and sustainability. Over the past three years, University of Phoenix has made significant contributions to advance the work and mission of Points of Light.
University of Phoenix’s strategic investments have mobilized volunteers across the country through innovative programming like the Road to the Gulf, which trained 6,300 service leaders and engaged 14,000 in community projects addressing education needs in just six months. It also developed and funded the Serve It Forward® scholarship program, encouraging community-minded individuals to pursue academic and personal development. As a top sponsor of the National Conference on Volunteering and Service, University of Phoenix enables Points of Light to bring together the largest gathering of social innovators, cultivating new solutions for our communities’ toughest challenges.
In addition to its work with Points of Light, University of Phoenix partners with Everybody Wins! USA and we are excited to share the story of their work together.
Since 1976, University of Phoenix has created opportunities for students to reach their full potential. From kindergarten to college, University of Phoenix believes all students deserve a high quality, accessible education that starts with a love of learning and, more importantly, a love of reading.
To drive this love, the University of Phoenix Foundation presented a three-year grant to Everybody Wins! USA in 2010 to expand its proven literacy and mentoring programs in the communities in which University of Phoenix operates. Today, employees from across the country regularly volunteer during their lunch hour to read to their partner child.
“When I volunteer with the Everybody Wins! Power Lunch program, I feel like I’m making a lasting impact on a child’s life,” said Nancy Hennigan, director of strategic partnerships and Everybody Wins! Phoenix board member. “Seeing them grow their literacy skills and love of books week-to-week inspires me.”
The Power Lunch program brings groups of adult volunteers into low-income elementary schools each week for one-on-one read aloud sessions with students. Last August, University of Phoenix donated $20,000 to the Chicago and Connecticut affiliates to expand the Power Lunch program.
“The Fairfield County Campus is thrilled to participate in the Power Lunch program. For our employees, giving up an hour each week to read to a child is not a sacrifice – it’s a privilege,” said Nancy Pluzdrak, campus director. “We’re proud to join Everybody Wins! in its efforts to bring the love of reading to our low-income schools and to support our community.”
In addition to staff community engagement, Executive Director of Corporate Social Responsibility Tammy Fernandez and Des Moines Campus Director Chris Mason sit on the National and Des Moines boards of Everybody Wins, respectively. University of Phoenix’s in-kind giving team is developing curriculum to bring the Power Lunch orientation to the web this year.
Seeing a child fall in love with a book is the motivation to do more and be better in the community. University of Phoenix believes it is its obligation to challenge illiteracy and make education possible for all students through the power of volunteers.
Points of Light’s Leadership Partner Program recognizes and engages companies and business leaders whose social responsibility investments have resulted in significant advancement of its mission to inspire, equip and mobilize people to take action that changes the world. One partner organization will be highlighted each month.
In service,
Michelle Nunn
CEO. Points of Light
Going Green at Conference in June
Yesterday was Earth Day, so using the theme that we should be taking care of the environment, here are tips to stay green and sustainable for our National Conference on Volunteering and Service. Remember to sign up for the early bird special this week before the deadline on Friday! Today’s guest post is written by Curtis Clark, our event coordinator at Points of Light.
It’s been a while since my last installment of a Day-In-the-Life Series, so I thought I would incorporate a little bit of what I’ve been working on here at Points of Light. I’ve been heading the Green Initiative for the 2012 National Conference on Volunteering and Service and have learned a tremendous amount concerning the things we do on a daily basis that effect the environment. It’s amazing what we could do differently, through little changes, to conserve energy and water thus leaving much less of an impact on the environment. We’ve come up with some ideas and – with the help of a few of our friends at PricewaterhouseCoopers – the green theme of REDUCING, REUSEING and RECYCLING for NCVS 2012.
Following these tips will take a collaborative effort from all of us. If we each try and limit some of the things we do on a daily basis, everyone benefits. With that said, here are some ways that you can help reduce the carbon footprint we leave at this year’s conference.
When you travel
:
Purchase a carbon offset for your flight
Utilize airline e-tickets and smart phone applications instead of paper tickets
Pack your own amenities instead of using hotel amenities to eliminate additional waste
Bring your own water bottle to refill at water stations
Don’t rent a car and utilize public transit
At your conference hotel:
Follow hotel guidelines on re-use programs (i.e. hanging towels so they aren’t replaced)
Unplug your phone and computer chargers from wall when not charging (chargers when plugged into wall and not device still pull electricity from socket)
Request to not have a newspaper delivered to your room
Turn off the TV, coffee maker, lights, heat and AC when you are not in your room
Participating in conference:
Utilize the shuttle transports provided to you from conference hotels to McCormick Place
Take only the brochures, program books or maps necessary – return others to the brochure stand or recycle in appropriately marked containers
Donate your conference bag back to the conference
Use your own stainless steel water bottles to refill at water stations, reducing water bottle waste
Refer to conference materials on-line to reduce your own paper use
If conducting your own meeting, refrain from using printed materials
Upload your schedule to your calendars instead of printing your schedule
Eating:
Eat at farmers’ markets, organic eateries and restaurants that feature local ingredients
Avoid room service and carryout
When offered individual packages of condiments, take only what you’ll use
Choose to eat on china instead of paper plates or out of paper bags
Working on the Green Initiative has been a great learning experience and has definitely broadened my horizons. It’s been a pleasure working on this project and I look forward to more exciting future opportunities here at Points of Light.
Curtis recently graduated from Georgia State University with his Masters of Science in Sports Management.
Friday Volunteer News Round Up!
It’s Friday! There have been so many fun and awesome things going on this past week for National Volunteer Week! Check out our
from Michelle Nunn that outline everything we had going on at Points of Light. We hope you celebrated the volunteers in your life and continue to thank those who take action to serve throughout the year!
Change Notes: Extraordinary Volunteers Honored at Make A Difference Day Awards
Friends,
Today, we celebrated 13 inspiring volunteer stories at the 2012 Make A Difference Day Awards in Washington, D.C. These awards, presented in partnership with USA WEEKEND and Newman’s Own, highlight the power of individuals to create change across geographies and generations.
For more than two decades, Points of Light has partnered with USA WEEKEND to sponsor Make A Difference Day, the largest national day of community service. It is a wonderful illustration of the American ideal of helping our neighbors in ordinary and extraordinary ways.
Each year on the fourth Saturday in October, Points of Light helps mobilize millions of Americans, young and old, to put their personal cares aside to tend to the needs of others. From those millions, the Make A Difference Day Award winners are selected for their leadership and service, which has not only created positive change in their communities, but also transformed their own lives for the better.
The event celebrated the best of our national spirit of service from across the country, ranging in age from school children to grandparents, proving that incredible things are possible when people unite to create change.
The event’s keynote speaker, actor and musician Kevin Bacon, shared his experience founding SixDegrees.org, a website that builds on the popularity of the “small world phenomenon” to create a charitable social network and inspire giving to charities online. He started the network with celebrities by highlighting their favorite charities, and he encourages everyone to be celebrities for their own causes by joining the Six Degrees movement.
Each of the 13 Make A Difference honorees received a $10,000 donation for charity from Newman’s Own. Honorees included:
Summer Search North Bay, Petaluma, Calif.
Fifty-five youth from Summer Search North Bay, which strives to develop leadership potential of promising low-income high school students, constructed a fence around a community garden, planned children’s activities, cleaned the grounds of an area high school and restored trails at a local forest preserve.
The United Way of Lake County, Waukegan, Ill.
A community joined forces with Bears Care, the charitable arm of the Chicago Bears and a local elementary school with an exceptionally high rate of physically disabled youth to build an accessible playground so all students can join their friends at recess.
The Marys & Marthas and the people of Clarion, Iowa
A group of church ladies, known as the Marys and Marthas, united their three-stoplight town, from preschoolers to elders, through hundreds of acts of kindness to mark its 10th year of participation in Make A Difference Day to create positive change in the community.
Girl Scouts of Madisonville Housing Authority Troop 333, Madisonville, Ky.
Local Girl Scouts used cookie sale proceeds to buy, decorate and hand deliver 450 greeting cards to nursing home residents. More importantly, they delivered smiles, friendship and a reminder to their elders that they are not forgotten.
Mary Vail, Las Vegas, Nev.
Mary Vail, 55, stepped in to fill a big void felt by the local Salvation Army as a result of Las Vegas’ recession. Vail’s annual supermarket food drive has collected 22.3 tons of food and toiletries since its inception 13 years ago, proving the city is more than a vacation hot spot.
Victory Christian Church, Albany, N.Y.
Victory Christian Church believes a city’s appearance is directly linked to the safety and well-being of a community. In order to keep the community in premier shape, the church celebrated its seventh Make A Difference Day by creating a “tool library,” complete with hammers, rakes, saws and more.
Joyce and John Jackson, Delaware, Ohio
Grandparents John and Joyce Jackson believe passing down the spirit of volunteerism is one of the most important things they’ll leave their grandchildren. For the second time, they spent Make A Difference Day collecting food with their granddaughter, enough to feed four families for three weeks.
Neha Gupta, Yardley, Penn.
A trip to India inspired Neha Gupta, 15, to start a nonprofit abroad and organize a local project for a diverse and incredibly poor intermediate school in her community. Thanks to Gupta and a group of volunteers, the school now boasts a library with more than 3,000 titles for the students to enjoy.
Eleanor Schoenbrun, El Paso, Texas
Eleanor Schoenbrun’s passion for homeless animals led her to spend Make A Difference Day in the hot sun of a parking lot collecting coins to save her abandoned, four-legged friends. The 8-year-old helped raise more than $2,705 for the Animal Rescue League of El Paso.
The Ellis Family, Rhinelander, Wis.
The Ellis family keeps their late daughter’s memory alive by raising money for their local Ronald McDonald House. Their efforts not only help others in the community facing similar hardships, but also keep Ashley a part of their lives after cancer took her at only 2-years-old.
The three 2012 City Award honorees included:
The Jersey City Parks Coalition and Jersey City, N.J.
The Jersey City Parks Coalition, with the support of three city agencies and more than 600 volunteers, planted bulbs on Make A Difference Day. Eighteen thousand yellow, red and orange daffodil and tulips brighten up 80 sites in the community.
City of Salisbury, N.C.
To celebrate its first Make A Difference Day, Salisbury’s Community Appearance Commission united more than 85 volunteers, including the mayor, a college track team, Girl Scouts and more, to paint houses, install fences and plant trees to beautify two neglected blocks of historic district.
Strong Neighborhoods Program, San Jose, Calif.
Strong Neighborhoods, a neighborhood revitalization program, led America’s 10th largest city in a cleanup blitz on Make A Difference Day. Approximately 160 volunteers, most of them under age 18, filled 48 trash bags and covered 708 graffiti tags.
The awards ceremony is a great reminder of the incredible acts of service creating positive change in our country as we set our sights on Make A Difference Day 2012, celebrated on Saturday, Oct. 27. It is a symbolic demonstration of the power of voluntary action – which we celebrate during this National Volunteer Week.
Make A Difference Day, the nation’s largest day of service was created in 1992 by Gannett Co., Inc.’s USA WEEKEND Magazine along with Newman’s Own and Points of Light. For more information, please go vist the Make A Difference Day website.
In service,
Michelle Nunn
CEO Points of Light
Make A Difference Day Luncheon Today in Washington, D.C.
Today in Washington D.C. we celebrate 14 inspiring honorees to show the extraordinary impact they make through service.
The luncheon celebrates their outstanding contributions made on last year’s Make A Difference Day (October 22, 2011). They will be awarded with $10,000 grants from Newman’s Own for the charity of their choice.
The Make A Difference Day Luncheon is fitting to have during National Volunteer Week, a time when people are celebrated for the extraordinary impact they make through service. Established in 1974, National Volunteer Week focuses national attention on the impact and power of volunteerism and service as an integral aspect of our civic leadership.
Nancy Cordes as keynote speaker, along with Kevin Bacon, Gannett, Newman’s Own and Points of Light executives, Members of Congress, families and guests of the honorees will join today to celebrate the spirit of volunteerism.
create the next generation of service.
Today’s turning point story is by Kelly Wessels, the chief operations officer at 
Today’s guest post is written by Jennifer M. Highsmith, Senior Director, Corporate Training & Consulting for The Points of Light Corporate Institute.
on school and workforce readiness, community engagement and sustainability. Over the past three years, University of Phoenix has made significant contributions to advance the work and mission of Points of Light.
Yesterday was Earth Day, so using the theme that we should be taking care of the environment, here are tips to stay green and sustainable for our 
Today in Washington D.C. we celebrate 14 inspiring honorees to show the extraordinary impact they make through service.