/PRNewswire/ -- Pledges to lose weight or pay off debts typically find a way into conversations this time of year, as the anticipation of New Year's resolutions approaches. However, according to a study from Disney Parks and HandsOn Network, 2010 may see a surge of helping hands and giving hearts, as more families resolve to volunteer.
The survey, conducted by New York-based Kelton Research Nov. 18-23, 2009, found that 59 percent of Americans plan to volunteer in 2010. Interestingly, more women than men (62 percent vs. 54 percent) include volunteering as a goal for next year.
Survey results also showed that 41 percent of Americans would rather pledge to help others, such as volunteering, than resolve to do something that is purely self-serving. In fact, when asked what they anticipate they could accomplish in 2010, 52 percent of Americans surveyed identified spending more time together, followed by 30 percent who selected volunteering as foreseeable goals.
HandsOn Network, the nation's largest volunteer network, is working with Disney to help make 2010 the ideal year to realize those goals and make volunteering a family resolution.
Beginning on Jan 1, 2010, Disney Parks officially launches "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day," a first-of-its-kind initiative with the help of HandsOn Network. Through the program, Disney Parks hopes to inspire 1 million people to perform a day of volunteer service for a participating organization in 2010 by giving them a free, one-day admission ticket to a Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort theme park. Families are encouraged to visit www.DisneyParks.com to research and sign up for a volunteer opportunity in their local community.
"Disney Parks, through HandsOn Network, is making it easy for volunteers of all ages to find an organization in need," said Maggie Jones Patton, executive director of Youth HandsOn Network, the youth activating arm of HON. "There has never been a better time to start a new tradition of volunteering together as Disney Parks celebrates good deeds with a free Disney theme park ticket."
A Family That Volunteers Together ...
The Kelton Research survey also found that more parents than single adults (68 percent vs. 55 percent) plan to volunteer in some way when the New Year arrives.
Volunteerism also has its "youth movement." The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that young adults, ages 16-24, are helping lead the way in volunteerism - with more than 441,000 young volunteers in 2008 versus 2007. It also found that the youth today believe it is essential and "very important" to help others in need.
And according to Just Kid Inc., 37 percent of kids, 44 percent of tweens and 46 percent of teens said they would do more volunteering if given the opportunity. When that happens, almost all youth (99 percent) say they were satisfied with their chosen volunteer service.
How to Get Involved
HandsOn Network has 250 on-the-ground volunteer action centers across the country and connects volunteers to more than 70,000 non-profit agencies that need help. With Americans already thinking about various volunteer opportunities as their New Year's resolutions, 28 percent would be most interested in packaging donations at a food pantry or soup kitchen or helping out at a clothing or toy drive, the survey said.
Below are additional examples of opportunities available through HandsOn Network and its local affiliates. Families are encouraged to visit www.DisneyParks.com for additional ways to help.
-- Plant, weed and tend a community garden
-- Read to or spend time with children at a local daycare center or
shelter
-- Assemble backpacks or supplies for under-resourced schools
-- Help spruce up a local school, library or outdoor park
-- Visit nursing homes to play games, make crafts or share talents with
senior residents
Through volunteering, communities benefit from the small steps taken to help rebuild local areas, and nonprofits receive valuable assistance. Since 2007, the number of people working to fix a community problem has risen by 31 percent - a dramatic increase - further benefiting local communities especially during the current economy, according to Volunteering in America 2009.
Starting Jan. 1, guests may pre-register and sign up for an eligible volunteer opportunity at disneyparks.com. Disney theme park ticket quantities for this program are limited. Must be at least age 6 to participate. One admission ticket per eligible person. Other terms and conditions apply. For details, see disneyparks.com.
Survey Methodological Notes
The Disney Parks Survey was conducted of 1,000 persons by Kelton Research between Nov. 18-23, 2009, using an e-mail invitation and an online survey. Quotas are set to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the entire U.S. population, ages 18 and over. Results are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. In this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 3.1 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.
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Showing posts with label hands on. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hands on. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Electric Co-op Employees Volunteer During Hands on Georgia Week
/PRNewswire/ -- Employees of Electric Membership Corporations (EMCs) throughout Georgia, Georgia EMC, Oglethorpe Power Corp., Georgia Transmission Corp. and Georgia System Operations Corp. will join forces during Hands on Georgia Week, September 26-October 2, to benefit a variety of community service projects.
Volunteer efforts this year will range from holding food drives in communities throughout Georgia, sorting perishable goods for area food banks, clearing trees and debris at a local park and other beautification projects.
Hands On Georgia (HOGA) Week is an initiative launched by Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue in 2004. Since 2007, GEMC, OPC, GTC and GSOC have been statewide sponsors, and last year joined ranks with more than 100 EMC employees across Georgia who volunteered during HOGA week.
"EMCs are proud to support Governor Perdue's focus on the importance of volunteerism and community service, since nearly 5,000 EMC employees across the state invest thousands of hours giving back to their communities throughout the year," notes Georgia EMC President/CEO Paul Wood.
"EMCs work hard to cultivate a commitment to our state and her communities, and HOGA week provides us the opportunity to honor that commitment in a concerted effort statewide."
This year, EMCs will cast a wide net during the week and enlist hundreds of volunteers from Blue Ridge Mountain EMC, Young Harris; Canoochee EMC, Reidsville; Carroll EMC, Carrollton; Cobb EMC, Marietta; Colquitt EMC, Moultrie; Diverse Power, LaGrange; Georgia EMC, Georgia Transmission Corp. and Oglethorpe Power Corp., Tucker; GreyStone Power, Douglasville; Jackson EMC, Jefferson; Mitchell EMC, Camilla; North Georgia EMC, Dalton; Ocmulgee EMC, Eastman; Oconee EMC, Dudley; Okefenoke REMC, Nahunta; Slash Pine EMC, Homerville; Snapping Shoals EMC, Covington; Southern Rivers, Barnesville; Tri-County EMC, Gray; and Walton EMC, Monroe.
In addition to individual EMC service projects, GEMC, OPC, GTC and GSOC will encourage participation in a statewide food drive coordinated with the Georgia Food Bank Network which provides assistance through member food banks to Georgians fighting hunger and food insecurity throughout the state.
This year, HOGA Week projects are planned in all 159 counties in the state. Communities will perform Hands On projects to address local needs such as environmental clean ups, building restorations, wheel chair ramp construction, playground builds and tutoring sessions with children, among many other efforts.
For more information, visit www.georgiaemc.com, www.opc.com, www.gatrans.com and www.gasoc.com.
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Volunteer efforts this year will range from holding food drives in communities throughout Georgia, sorting perishable goods for area food banks, clearing trees and debris at a local park and other beautification projects.
Hands On Georgia (HOGA) Week is an initiative launched by Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue in 2004. Since 2007, GEMC, OPC, GTC and GSOC have been statewide sponsors, and last year joined ranks with more than 100 EMC employees across Georgia who volunteered during HOGA week.
"EMCs are proud to support Governor Perdue's focus on the importance of volunteerism and community service, since nearly 5,000 EMC employees across the state invest thousands of hours giving back to their communities throughout the year," notes Georgia EMC President/CEO Paul Wood.
"EMCs work hard to cultivate a commitment to our state and her communities, and HOGA week provides us the opportunity to honor that commitment in a concerted effort statewide."
This year, EMCs will cast a wide net during the week and enlist hundreds of volunteers from Blue Ridge Mountain EMC, Young Harris; Canoochee EMC, Reidsville; Carroll EMC, Carrollton; Cobb EMC, Marietta; Colquitt EMC, Moultrie; Diverse Power, LaGrange; Georgia EMC, Georgia Transmission Corp. and Oglethorpe Power Corp., Tucker; GreyStone Power, Douglasville; Jackson EMC, Jefferson; Mitchell EMC, Camilla; North Georgia EMC, Dalton; Ocmulgee EMC, Eastman; Oconee EMC, Dudley; Okefenoke REMC, Nahunta; Slash Pine EMC, Homerville; Snapping Shoals EMC, Covington; Southern Rivers, Barnesville; Tri-County EMC, Gray; and Walton EMC, Monroe.
In addition to individual EMC service projects, GEMC, OPC, GTC and GSOC will encourage participation in a statewide food drive coordinated with the Georgia Food Bank Network which provides assistance through member food banks to Georgians fighting hunger and food insecurity throughout the state.
This year, HOGA Week projects are planned in all 159 counties in the state. Communities will perform Hands On projects to address local needs such as environmental clean ups, building restorations, wheel chair ramp construction, playground builds and tutoring sessions with children, among many other efforts.
For more information, visit www.georgiaemc.com, www.opc.com, www.gatrans.com and www.gasoc.com.
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Monday, January 14, 2008
Governor Perdue Announces Hands On Challenge Grants
Governor Sonny Perdue announced today the availability of $115,000 in funding to communities interested in implementing or expanding volunteer programming in their local cities and towns.
“In the three years the Hands On Georgia State Challenge Grants have been offered, I have been pleased with the innovative ways in which Georgia’s communities have used the funding to implement engaging and accessible volunteer opportunities,” said Governor Sonny Perdue.
“Across the state, local communities face daily challenges to meet the needs of their citizens. This funding allows community leaders to offer viable solutions to fulfill those needs.”
Hands On Georgia and The Georgia Department of Community Affairs jointly distribute the grants to local governments that partner with community agencies with plans to engage volunteers in service.
The available funding represents the second round of grants made available to Georgia communities. The first round of grants totaling nearly $85,000 was awarded in November at the Georgia Summit on Volunteerism. The grant requires each recipient to match the grant award with locally raised funds, dollar for dollar, bringing the total leveraged amount of statewide community funding to $400,000.
Hands On Georgia Challenge Grants totaling $400,000 were awarded to 25 communities in the past three years. Cities receiving grants include: Athens; Atlanta; Columbus; Dalton; Eatonton; Harlem; Macon; Milledgeville; Reidsville; Rome; Savannah; Tifton and Statesboro. County-wide grants have been awarded to: Cook County; Cordele/Crisp County; Dodge County; Dooly County; Fannin County; Forsyth County; Glynn and McIntosh Counties; Newton County; Thomas County; Wayne County and Webster County.
Hands On Georgia is a statewide network that supports innovative volunteer approaches to meeting Georgia’s critical needs. The program calls upon the citizens of Georgia to help tackle tough issues in our state through volunteer service and engaged citizenship.
Hands On Georgia currently has 19 affiliates in the communities of Adairsville, Athens, Atlanta, Coastal Georgia (Glynn and McIntosh Counties), Columbus, Dalton, Dooly County, Forsyth County, Harlem, Hall County, Liberty County, Macon, Milledgeville, Newton County, Rome/Floyd County, Savannah, Statesboro, Thomas County and Wayne County.
Download an application for the Hands On Georgia and The Georgia Department of Community Affairs State Challenge Grant at http://www.handsongeorgia.org/. For more information about Hands On Georgia email info@handsongeorgia.org or call 404.979.2910.
“In the three years the Hands On Georgia State Challenge Grants have been offered, I have been pleased with the innovative ways in which Georgia’s communities have used the funding to implement engaging and accessible volunteer opportunities,” said Governor Sonny Perdue.
“Across the state, local communities face daily challenges to meet the needs of their citizens. This funding allows community leaders to offer viable solutions to fulfill those needs.”
Hands On Georgia and The Georgia Department of Community Affairs jointly distribute the grants to local governments that partner with community agencies with plans to engage volunteers in service.
The available funding represents the second round of grants made available to Georgia communities. The first round of grants totaling nearly $85,000 was awarded in November at the Georgia Summit on Volunteerism. The grant requires each recipient to match the grant award with locally raised funds, dollar for dollar, bringing the total leveraged amount of statewide community funding to $400,000.
Hands On Georgia Challenge Grants totaling $400,000 were awarded to 25 communities in the past three years. Cities receiving grants include: Athens; Atlanta; Columbus; Dalton; Eatonton; Harlem; Macon; Milledgeville; Reidsville; Rome; Savannah; Tifton and Statesboro. County-wide grants have been awarded to: Cook County; Cordele/Crisp County; Dodge County; Dooly County; Fannin County; Forsyth County; Glynn and McIntosh Counties; Newton County; Thomas County; Wayne County and Webster County.
Hands On Georgia is a statewide network that supports innovative volunteer approaches to meeting Georgia’s critical needs. The program calls upon the citizens of Georgia to help tackle tough issues in our state through volunteer service and engaged citizenship.
Hands On Georgia currently has 19 affiliates in the communities of Adairsville, Athens, Atlanta, Coastal Georgia (Glynn and McIntosh Counties), Columbus, Dalton, Dooly County, Forsyth County, Harlem, Hall County, Liberty County, Macon, Milledgeville, Newton County, Rome/Floyd County, Savannah, Statesboro, Thomas County and Wayne County.
Download an application for the Hands On Georgia and The Georgia Department of Community Affairs State Challenge Grant at http://www.handsongeorgia.org/. For more information about Hands On Georgia email info@handsongeorgia.org or call 404.979.2910.
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