National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD)
National VOAD is a nonpartisan, nonprofit association dedicated to be the forum where organizations share knowledge and resources throughout the disaster cycle – preparation, response and recovery – to help disaster survivors and their communities. The organization partnered with Points of Light and HandsOn Network at the 2012 National Conference on Volunteering and Service as part of the Get HandsOn campaign and as a national presenter with the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes. National VOAD has been instrumental in collaborating and connecting resources and partners with HandsOn Network during times of response and recovery. In addition, National VOAD participated in A Billion + Change’s disaster session focused on corporations with skills-based volunteering programs focused on disaster. This year, National VOAD will partner with Points of Light on the disaster track at the 2012 National Conference on Volunteering and Service, and provides ongoing support for emergency preparedness programming.
Lan Diep
Colonel David Sutherland
HandsOn Twin Cities
Boys and Girls Clubs of America
Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) is a network of some 4,000 community-based sites serving four million young people each year. The organization was an activation partner for the 2012 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, engaging nearly 5,000 youth volunteers who organized a variety of projects in their local communities. This included cards to military service members, book drives, fundraisers for homeless shelters, neighborhood revitalization efforts and assemblies that educated youth and families about Dr. King’s legacy and his belief that everyone can serve. In all, Boys & Girls Club members provided more than 24,000 hours of service during MLK Day. In recognition of its importance, BGCA has also included leadership and civic engagement as one of the organization’s three areas of focus in its long-term strategic plan.
Spencer Kympton
Big Sunday
Big Sunday helps build community through community service. The idea is that everyone has some way they can help. Last year, Big Sunday mobilized 50,000 volunteers from all walks of life to help out on Big Sunday Weekend in May. The organization also mobilized more than 500 volunteers for the 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance, benefiting 2,500 people. Big Sunday is now a year-round organization, with a calendar listing more than 1,000 ways to get involved every year; monthly special events; more than 100 giving events at the holidays; an online wish list; a Youth in Action program; special corporate event planning; and more. Of all the things that Big Sunday does, the thing it enjoys the most is bringing people together to make the world a better place.