'Do Good Get Rewards' Rewards Volunteers on MLK Day

/PRNewswire/ -- Do Good Get Rewards is supporting the 25th Anniversary of King Holiday by rewarding volunteers on January 17th, the National Day of Service. Volunteers earn points for the hours they work and redeem them for rewards such as vacations, hotel, restaurant certificates and more. It is the goal of the nation's first online volunteer rewards program, to increase and sustain volunteering all year round. At Do Good Get Rewards, Non-Profit organizations validate volunteer hours as quickly as accepting friends on Facebook. There is no cost for Non-Profits or volunteers to become members of the rewards program.

"We want to support the efforts of the incredibly hardworking organizations that make a difference in our communities in every way we can," states Founder of Do Good Get Rewards Tammy Allen. The volunteer rewards program and social networking site provides a simple system for non-profit organizations to post volunteer opportunities, track volunteers and their hours.

Non-profits rely heavily on volunteers, but more than one-third of those who volunteer one year do not donate their time the next year. That adds up to an estimated $38 billion in lost labor according to the 2009 Stanford Social Innovation review. Do Good Get Rewards, an online volunteer rewards program, wants to be part of the solution. The program was designed to give non-profit organizations a simple, free way to demonstrate appreciation to their volunteers and provide incentives to grow their volunteer base.

Volunteers for MLK Day can submit their hours for rewards points at www.DoGoodGetRewards.com. To locate volunteer opportunities in your area you visit, www.VolunteerMatch.org. We invite all Non-Profit organizations to sign up to reward their volunteers year round. The goal of Do Good Get Rewards program is to express appreciation to those millions of Americans who make a difference everyday and encourage even greater numbers to donate their time and talents.

For more information, please visit www.DoGoodGetRewards.com, info@DoGoodGetRewards.com or call 678.344.603.

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Delta Volunteers Build 15 Houses with Habitat for Humanity in Chile

/PRNewswire/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) and Habitat for Humanity will join forces Nov. 1-3, to build 15 Habitat houses in El Monte, Chile, as part of Delta's Force for Global Good program to effect positive local and global change. The group leaves on Friday evening from Atlanta.

This will be the second time Delta volunteers and Habitat for Humanity will work together in Chile. Two years ago, 60 Delta employees traveled to Chile to build 15 houses in Casablanca. This year, more than 80 employees will build houses in El Monte, where many families are in need of housing following the Feb. 27 earthquake and its aftershocks. El Monte is 34 miles southwest of Santiago, Chile's capital.

"At Delta, we have a responsibility to help communities in need, especially those communities we serve. The need for safe, affordable housing is still great. It is our privilege to help Chilean families rebuild and improve their living conditions," said Ed Bastian, president—Delta Air Lines, and Habitat for Humanity International Board Member.

Delta volunteers will be joined by Mary Beth Witzel of Petaluma, California, a Delta SkyMiles® member who bid 338,000 miles in an online auction to win the opportunity to go on the trip. The miles will be donated to Habitat for Humanity. Mary Beth Witzel invited her daughter, Lisa Witzel to accompany her on the trip and participate on the build.

"The generous partnership of national and international volunteers provides great support for Habitat Chile's affordable housing work," said Luis Santibanez, national director for Habitat for Humanity Chile. "We appreciate Delta's dedication and contribution to helping us improve the living conditions of families in El Monte."

Delta has supported Habitat for Humanity for more than 20 years, and strengthened the partnership in 2006 when the airline unveiled the first 767-300 featuring a unique Habitat for Humanity livery and a Delta "Force for Global Good" decal.

This is Delta's sixth international build with Habitat for Humanity. Delta employees from around the globe use vacation time and pay a portion of their expenses to volunteer on the international builds and help those in need of simple, decent and affordable housing, while also taking the opportunity to know more about the country and its culture. Delta has been involved in similar projects in South Africa, Ghana, India and Thailand. Within the United States, Delta's volunteers also have built houses in New York, Mississippi, Georgia, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Minnesota, Michigan, Florida and California.

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Clayton State Cares… as Part of President Hynes’ Inauguration

As part of the inauguration ceremonies of President Dr. Thomas J. “Tim” Hynes, Jr., the Clayton State University Department of Campus Life will be sponsoring a day of community service, entitled “Clayton State Cares” on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010.

The First Clayton State Cares Day will feature volunteer service projects for Clayton State students, faculty, staff, administrators, and their families at five locations in the Southern Crescent. All five service projects will run from 9 a.m. to noon and will be followed by a cookout for the volunteers at the Clayton State Student Activities Center from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.

The five service projects are as follows…

Helping the City of Forest Park turn a vacant lot into a community garden.

Spreading mulch, planting flowers and doing basic equipment maintenance at the Lake City Park Playgorund and the Run Creek Playground.

Volunteering at the Lafayette Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Fayetteville.

Helping with morning set-up and registration for the Second Annual Ride to Break the Cycle Motorcycle Ride in Henry County.

For more information on Clayton State Cares, contact the Departmentof Campus Life at (678) 466-5433.

A unit of the University System of Georgia, Clayton State University is an outstanding comprehensive metropolitan university located 15 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta.

Volunteers Are Urgently Needed for Free Health Clinic for Uninsured

/PRNewswire/ -- Volunteers are urgently needed for a one-day, free health clinic in the Atlanta area this month that is expected to serve more than 1,000 uninsured Georgia residents.

"More than 18 percent of Georgia's non-elderly population is uninsured, demonstrating a great need for access to free medical services," National Association of Free Clinics (NAFC) Executive Director Nicole Lamoureux said. "In addition to providing needed medical services on the day of the event, this clinic is designed to connect the uninsured to ongoing medical resources."

The C.A.R.E. (Communities Are Responding Everyday) Clinic is scheduled for March 27 at the Georgia International Convention Center near Atlanta from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. It is sponsored by the NAFC and the Georgia Free Clinic Network (GFCN), which includes 18 free clinics around the state.

"Medical volunteers are urgently needed including doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathy, nurse practitioners, physician's assistants, registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, emergency medical technicians, medical administrators, licensed clinical social workers and more," GFCN Executive Director Donna Looper said. "We also need non-medical volunteers to help with documentation, logistical support, patient intake and translation, as well as to be patient greeters and escorts."

Volunteers can find out more information and register online at http://www.regonline.com/Atlanta_CARE_Clinic. Those interested in attending the clinic as a patient may call 1-877-233-5159 to make an appointment now.

"It is important to note that being uninsured is not the same as being unemployed," Lamoureux said. "About 83 percent of uninsured people have jobs. At past C.A.R.E. Clinics, we found that many of the patients worked at two or more jobs but did not receive health insurance benefits. Some even worked as nurses or for insurance companies but still did not have insurance themselves."

Dr. Craig Dietz, the Clinical Director of the Kansas City Free Clinic, has been a volunteer at all of the previous C.A.R.E. clinics that were held in Houston, New Orleans, Little Rock, Kansas City and Hartford. At these clinics over 7,000 uninsured people received free medical care. "Being involved in these clinics has been a rewarding experience," says Dr. Dietz. "We look forward to working with the Georgia community and adding to the approximately 7,000 previous C.A.R.E. clinic volunteers to help put on this important event."

About the National Association of Free Clinics:

The National Association of Free Clinics is the only nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization whose mission is solely focused on the issues and needs of more than 1,200 free clinics and the people they serve in the United States.

Founded in 2001 and headquartered near Washington, D.C., the NAFC is an effective advocate for the issues and concerns of free clinics, their volunteer workforce of doctors, dentists, nurses, therapists, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, technicians and other health care professionals, as well as the patients served by free clinics in communities throughout the nation.

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Year to Volunteer! Helping Others in 2010 Among Leading New Year's Resolutions for Americans, Survey Shows

/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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Big Brothers Big Sisters & African American Fraternities to Develop Bold Plan to Help Black Boys Succeed

/PRNewswire/ -- On December 18, Big Brothers Big Sisters and leaders of the network's Black Fraternity Coalition will meet in Atlanta (Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, 165 Courtland, 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) to develop a bold strategy and detailed plan aimed at giving African American boys every opportunity to succeed. Leaders of the nation's largest donor-supported volunteer mentoring network and their fraternity partners say they will significantly increase the number of African American Big Brothers, beginning in 2010.

The African American Mentoring summit, sponsored by the Arby's Foundation, is the second step in Big Brothers Big Sisters' announcement of its unprecedented collaboration with Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi and Omega Psi Phi fraternities aimed at getting more black men engaged in long-term mentoring. Recognizing that children of color, particularly African American boys, disproportionately represent children waiting to be matched, Big Brothers Big Sisters and its African American Roundtable (internal and external advisors) have made engaging black men a priority.

Big Brothers Big Sisters, proven to help vulnerable youth beat the odds, matches and supports more children and mentors of color in long-term one-to-one mentoring than any organization in the nation. The donor-supported volunteer network has seen a steady increase in both African American Littles and Bigs (see statistics below) since 2000. Still, with boys waiting to be matched disproportionately representing African Americans; the national donor-supported volunteer network continues its intentional focus on attracting more black men.

"Alpha Phi Alpha, our first fraternity partner, as well as Kappa Alpha Psi and Omega Psi Phi know our track record -- that children in our programs are more likely to improve in school, stay out of trouble and have positive relationships with their families," said Karen Mathis, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America President and Chief Executive Officer, who will speak at the summit. "At the end of the day, we will have a specific strategy for joining forces with the fraternities to support the growing numbers of parents, most of them, single mothers, who look to Big Brothers Big Sisters to help their sons succeed."

Even as economic challenges have slowed match growth for many of the mentoring network's agencies, the national non-profit expects by year's end to have a slight increase in African American male mentors for its community-based programs. The organization attributes this year's progress in part to President Barack Obama's Call to Service and local efforts by their fraternity partners, particularly Alpha Phi Alpha, which began supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters 18 years ago with recruiting and fundraising activities. Credit also goes to the organization's Campaign for Men, an Arby's Foundation-supported marketing program and its 2009 Mentoring Brothers efforts, led by syndicated radio personalities the 2 Live Stews with support from Tom Joyner and other African American syndicated radio personalities.

At the Mentoring Roundtable, Georgia Congressman John L. Lewis and Rev. Dr. W. Wilson Goode, Jr. will share strategies with the national non-profit and fraternity leaders about how to build national movements. Goode, former Philadelphia mayor and member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, is the father of the national non-profit's successful Amachi Mentoring Children of Prisoners program and serves on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern Pennsylvania. Lewis, a renowned civil rights leader, is a member of Phi Beta Sigma, another fraternity expected to join the national black fraternity mentoring collaboration. Summit leaders will also hear from African American male matches from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta.

Big Brothers Big Sisters receives referrals from longtime partners 100 Black Men, Susan Taylor's National Cares Mentoring Movement, MENTOR, and other mentoring advocacy organizations. In the past decade, Big Brothers Big Sisters has been intentional about servicing America's most vulnerable children, those of single, low-income or incarcerated parents, who are disproportionately children of color.

-- From 2000 to 2008 the percentage of African American Bigs has
increased from 8% of total to 16%--from 9,440 to 40,800. The
percentage of African American Littles has increased from 22% to
36%--from 25,960 to 91,800. This is the largest group of African
American mentors and mentees in the country. (Big Brothers Big Sisters
tracks each match.)
-- From 2000 to 2008 the percentage of Bigs of color (black, white, mixed
race and other) has increased from 18% to 34%--from 21,240 to 86,700.
The percentage of Littles of color has increased from 41% to 67%--from
48,380 to 170,850.
-- From 2000 to 2008 the percentage of African American Littles who are
matched with African-American Bigs has increased from 36% to 44%. The
percentage of Littles of color with Bigs of color has increased from
43% to 49%.
-- With its Amachi program; in the early 2000's Big Brothers Big Sisters
set out to significantly increase service to children of incarcerated
parents. As of 2009, 16% of all youth served by the national
non-profit are children of incarcerated parents -- 88% of these are
African American. Started in Philadelphia, headed by Rev. Dr. Wilson
Goode with 43 African American churches; the program includes
guidelines for its agencies on how to partner with African American
churches to mentor children of incarcerated parents.
-- Big Brothers Big Sisters' African American Task Force and African
American Advisory Council, active since 2003, in 2009 with the
fraternity collaboration has become the African American Mentoring
Action Round Table in 2009.
-- Big Brothers Big Sisters' African American Fraternity partnership
started 18 years ago with Alpha Phi Alpha (their call for 10,000
mentors) and as of 2009 includes Kappa Alpha Psi and Omega Psi Phi;
with two other fraternity partnerships possible in coming months
making Big Brothers Big Sisters the only organization with a
partnership with three African American fraternities
-- Focus groups were conducted in 2007 on how Big Brothers Big Sisters
can been connect to recruit African-American men
-- Big Brothers Big Sisters in 2008 established MentoringBrothers.org,
which has attracted more than a million new visitors in 2009, thanks
in large part to the advocacy work of syndicated sports radio
personalities, the 2 Live Stews, Doug and Ryan Stewart, Big Brothers
who used promoted Big Brothers Big Sisters on African American talk
radio programs this year such as the Tom Joyner Morning Show, Rickey
Smiley Show, Warren Ballentine, Rolling Out TV and national programs
with large black male audiences.
-- Big Brothers Big Sisters in 2009 formed a partnership with the African
Methodist Episcopal Church.
-- Big Brothers Big Sisters of America hosts Diversity and Cultural
inclusion training; workshops at its national conferences.

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Winship Volunteer Inspires With Healing Power of Music

When Brenda Nease was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999, listening to music and playing the piano helped her through her treatment and recovery.

Now Nease uses music to help other patients and their families at Emory Winship Cancer Institute. Several years after her treatment, Nease became a volunteer and a member of the Emory Winship advisory board.

In honor of Nease's work, a longtime friend Howard Tellepsen and his family donated $25,000 to Emory Winship to establish the Brenda Nease Fund.

Through support from the fund, Nease suggested the purchase of a Yamaha C1 baby grand piano for Emory Winship's lobby. The gift also supports the piano's maintenance.

Every week Nease can be found playing everything from old standards to classical tunes in the institute's lobby.

"We encourage volunteers, students, faculty, and members of the Emory community to come and play whenever they can," says Nease, who plays at least once a week. "Now some of the patients are even beginning to come in and play the piano, which is better than I ever imagined. The piano is so beautiful, and I am just thrilled so many people have been playing."

Tellepsen, a Georgia Tech graduate, understands how Nease's personal experiences have led to her dedication. His 93-year-old mother also is a breast cancer survivor.

"Brenda is so pleased to be on the advisory board at Emory Winship, and I was honored when she called and gave me an opportunity to make a gift," says Tellepsen, chairman and CEO of a 100-year-old, family-owned construction company in Houston. "I'm just happy to be able to help her help others. This is a gift that keeps giving because it is not only a gift for Emory Winship, but for all of the patients."

Emory Winship executive director Walter J. Curran shares this sentiment.

"The gifts of time, talent, and philanthropy that Brenda Nease brings to her volunteerism efforts at Emory Winship make a meaningful difference for everyone. We are humbled by her thoughtful focus on the patient experience," Curran says.

Since the piano was delivered in September, patients arriving at Emory Winship for early morning appointments have often been greeted by the sound of staff member Tricia Harper playing hymns before her shift begins.

"When I saw that they needed volunteers willing to play I immediately responded," says Harper, an ultrasound technologist who began playing piano again in the past couple of years after being away from the instrument for many years. "I have a keyboard I play at home, but there is nothing like a real piano. I mostly play old church songs that a lot of people recognize, and I think they find it comforting and soothing. Just about every day one or two people will come by and say thank you or to tell me they enjoy it."

The Tellepsen family's gift is part of Campaign Emory, a $1.6 billion fund-raising endeavor that combines private support and the University's people, places, and programs to make a powerful contribution to the world. Investments through Campaign Emory fuel efforts to address fundamental challenges: improving health, gaining ground in science and technology, resolving conflict, harnessing the power of the arts, and educating the heart and mind.

If you would like to volunteer to play the piano at Emory Winship, please contact DaVida Lee-Williams (404.778.2405), Emory Winship's coordinator of volunteer services.

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Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and His Wife, Rosalynn, Join Thousands of Volunteers in Asia for Annual Habitat for Humanity Build

/PRNewswire/ -- Former U.S. President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, welcomed volunteers to Thailand as they kicked off the 26th annual Habitat for Humanity Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project in Chiang Mai. The Carters will lead the annual Habitat for Humanity build in five Asian countries, Nov. 15-20.

The Carters and nearly 3,000 volunteers from around the world will spend the week building and repairing 166 homes in Thailand, Vietnam, China, Cambodia and Laos - all countries along the Mekong River.

"In an area of the world where many people live in deplorable conditions, we have a chance to help families improve their housing," said former President Carter. "Over the years I have seen the lasting impact Habitat for Humanity volunteers can have, and I have been personally touched by the work they are doing around the world."

During the week, the Carters will join dignitaries, celebrities, volunteers and Habitat homeowners as they build in Chiang Mai and visit construction sites in the other countries.

Celebrity volunteers expected to build in Chiang Mai and elsewhere include global movie action star Jet Li; Japanese footballer Hidetoshi Nakata; Hong Kong actor/director Daniel Wu; from India, Bollywood superstar and Habitat for Humanity India supporter John Abraham, along with fellow countryman actor R. "Maddy" Madhavan; South Korean TV acting sensation Lee Seo-Jin, and Habitat for Humanity Thailand's goodwill ambassador, singer and actor Rattapoom "Film" Tokongsub.

Habitat for Humanity of Thailand will anchor the five-country Carter Work Project, where volunteers will build a community of 82 houses with families in Chiang Mai province. The number 82 was chosen to honor the 82nd birthday of the Thai monarch, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, on Dec. 5, 2009.

Habitat volunteers in Cambodia will build 21 houses in Damnak Thom village with families who will be relocating from a dumpsite near Phnom Penh. Thirty-two houses will be built by Habitat homeowners and volunteers in Vietnam's Dong Xa village near Hanoi.

In China, Habitat is working with the local government in Qionglai city, in the southwestern province of Sichuan, in a project to build a series of multi-story, urban housing units that will eventually house hundreds of families. Habitat volunteers will help construct 20 Habitat for Humanity units during the Carter project.

Additionally, in Laos, Habitat volunteers and families will refurbish 11 homes in Ban Chawang village, 30 minutes outside the capital city of Vientiane.

"With the help of President and Mrs. Carter and the thousands of devoted Habitat volunteers, the Carter Work Project will result not only in better housing for families who urgently need it in the Mekong region, but in much-needed attention to the housing plight of so many families in this part of the world," said Habitat for Humanity Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Reckford. "Decent shelter helps transform lives and entire communities, and we're grateful for President and Mrs. Carter's servant leadership."

"Habitat for Humanity has a strong and growing presence in all the Mekong countries through a wide range of housing solutions," said Richard Hathaway, vice president for Habitat for Humanity International's Asia-Pacific region. "We are thankful to President and Mrs. Carter and the thousands of volunteers who will give programs in this area a major boost, allowing Habitat to serve even more families in need of decent shelter."

Habitat's Carter Work Project is an annual, internationally-recognized week of building that brings attention to the need for simple, decent and affordable housing in partnership with low-income families. President and Mrs. Carter have faithfully given one week of their time each year since 1984 to help build Habitat homes and raise awareness about the need for simple, decent housing. The Carter Work Project has been held in India, Korea, The Philippines, Mexico, South Africa, Hungary and throughout the United States.

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'Emory Cares' During International Day of Service

More than 1,200 volunteers, from Atlanta to Hong Kong and multiple points in between, are set to take part in Emory Cares International Service Day 2009 this Saturday, Nov. 14. Members of the Emory University community will lead dozens of service projects in 40 cities in nine countries across five continents.

In Atlanta alone, more than 800 members of the Emory community – alumni, students, staff, faculty and parents – are set to fan out across the city for a variety of service projects. Volunteers will participate in a cleanup Oakland Cemetery, help sort donations for refugees and foster children, work on stream cleanups and trail maintenance in local parks, repair homes for senior citizens, and participate in Habitat for Humanity builds, among other projects. Emory President James Wagner will be among the volunteers sorting medical supplies for delivery to developing nations at local nonprofit MedShare.

The growth of Emory Cares, a signature program of the Emory Alumni Association (EAA), has been steady since its founding in 2003 by Emory alumna Renelda Mack, then president of the Board of Governors (now known as the Emory Alumni Board). Following her lead, Emory alumni in cities across the country and around the world stepped up and volunteered to lead service projects.

Outside the United States, alumni and parents in Argentina, Hong Kong, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Spain, South Africa and South Korea are hosting Emory Cares projects. In Barcelona, alumni will host a bowling tournament to fund a nonprofit that assists African children. Volunteers will work an organic farm in Darmstadt, Germany, and in Seoul, alumni and students will volunteer at Peace House, a home for physically and mentally disabled men.

In Atlanta, the EAA expanded its partnerships with Volunteer Emory and other campus organizations, which has brought hundreds of students into the volunteer mix. Several of the EAA's alumni interest groups are planning service projects of their own, including EAA's Atlanta Young Alumni chapter, the Caucus of Emory Black Alumni and Emory Gay and Lesbian Alumni.

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Record Volunteer Turnout Expected for King Day of Service

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- President-elect Obama's call for Americans to join in service to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the King Holiday has had an electrifying effect, with a record number of projects taking place in communities across America today.

Community and nonprofit groups across the country are thrilled about the large and enthusiastic response to the President-elect's call to service, and hope that volunteers who serve tomorrow will make an ongoing commitment to serve throughout the year, as the President-elect has called for.

In 1994, Congress passed legislation encouraging the King Federal Holiday be a national day of service, and charged the federal agency the Corporation for National and Community Service with leading this national effort. Participation has grown every year since, but has taken a quantum leap this year with President-elect Obama's call to service.

As of 2:00 pm yesterday, the Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) reported that more 12,100 service projects have been registered on the www.USAService.org website. This number is more than double the record set last year when 500,000 Americans served through 5,000 projects on the King Day of Service.

"In this time of economic distress, we need citizen service more than ever. Service is a solution that can bring us closer to Dr. King's dream of a better America," said Stephen Goldsmith, the Corporation's Board Chair. "While our nation has made great progress, we still have much work to do. Service is a powerful way for every American to bring us closer to meet our challenges and fulfill the promise of America."

Another driver of this year's record turnout is the Internet. Americans can find volunteer opportunities at www.USAService.org or www.MLKDay.gov; get ideas for do-it-yourself volunteer projects at http://www.mlkmobilization.org/america_serves/; join the MLK Day Facebook Cause, or get real-time photos at Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mlkday/) and project reports on Twitter (http://twitter.com/mlkday).

"Through President-elect Obama's call to service, the hard work and planning by thousands of community groups, and the savvy use of the Internet, we will see an extraordinary demonstration of the power of citizen action across America tomorrow," said Nicola Goren, Acting CEO of the Corporation. "We are thrilled that President-elect Obama has made service a centerpiece of his Inauguration and will make it a central cause of his Administration."

A wide variety of projects are being planned including delivering meals, refurbishing schools and community centers, collecting food and clothing, removing graffiti, reading to children, and more. Many organizations use the day as a springboard for year-round civic action, such as signing up mentors or tutors or youth taking pledges of nonviolence. Below are some highlights:

-- Thousands of volunteers will gather at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial
Stadium in Washington D.C. to assemble over 75,000 care packages to
send to our troops for the "Day of Service for Our Military" project
sponsored by Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and Serve DC in partnership with
Operation Gratitude and Target.

-- More than 65,000 volunteers will serve in 900 projects in 14th annual
Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service, the largest in
the country. Organizers are using the day to launch MLK 365, a new
year-round initiative promoting sustainable civic engagement and
volunteer opportunities

-- The Points of Light Institute and its HandsOn Network will engage more
than 100,000 volunteers in projects across the country that are
expected to serve more than one million Americans.

-- Yesterday, the National Alliance for Faith and Justice recruited mentors
for children of prisoners and other at-risk youth at more than 425
places of worship as part of Justice Sunday.

-- More than 600 Boys and Girls Clubs are participating in the King Day
of Service, engaging members in community clean ups, writing letters
to soldiers, organizing food drives, visiting senior centers and
creating care packages for sick children.

-- The American Red Cross is teaming up with HOPE Worldwide to engage
volunteers in 25 cities to canvass door-to-door and provide vital fire
safety information to help residents prevent home fires, protect their
loved ones and strengthen their community.

-- Many major US corporations are participating in King Day by
encouraging their employees to serve and supporting local projects.
Examples include Shell, Target, Best Buy, Kaiser Permanente, and
Walmart.

-- More than 16,000 college students from 130 campuses in 28 states will
engage in King Day service projects organized by Campus Compact, with
projects ranging from neighborhood clean-ups to preparing and serving
meals to hospice patients.

-- In Buffalo, NY, several hundred members of Western New York AmeriCorps
program will supervise 4,000 volunteers for projects including
boarding up the windows of dangerous condemned houses to teaching
community members how to run their own community garden.

-- At colleges across the US, Campus Kitchens will engage college
students and community volunteers in leading hunger relief programs to
share on-campus kitchen space, recover unused food from campus
cafeterias, and deliver meals to low-income neighborhoods.

-- Children for Children in New York City will engage 3,000 elementary
and middle students in a day of hands-on service projects honoring Dr.
King at two schools in midtown and Harlem.

-- Youth Service America has launched "Semester of Service" to
encourages students, ages 5-25 engage in service-learning starting on
King Day and culminating on Global Youth Service Day (April 24-26,
2009).


The seven national strategic partners for the 2009 King Day of Service are the Points of Light Institute, The Corps Network, North Carolina Campus Compact, Youth Service America, Service for Peace, Campus Kitchens, and the National Alliance of Faith and Justice. National nonprofit partners include the AARP, American Association of State Colleges and Universities, American Red Cross, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, America's Promise, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Breakthrough Collaborative, Causecast, City Year, Do Something, First Book, Habitat for Humanity International, HOPE worldwide, The King Memorial Foundation, Lutheran Social Services. MENTOR, National Marrow Donor Program, ServiceNation, Student Conservation Association, United Way of America, VolunteerMatch, and YouthBuild USA. Corporate partners include Cargill, Clear Channel, Comcast, Shell Oil Company, Starbucks, Target, and UPS. A complete list of partners is a http://www.mlkday.gov/about/partners/index.asp.

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How to Give Back During Tough Economic Times

(ARA) -- During tough economic times, it can be hard to find money in your budget to donate to charities. But there are many other ways to give back to the community that allow you to support charitable causes throughout the year.

The need for charitable donations this year is even greater because of the faltering economy -- just as nonprofits fear donations will be decreasing, the demand for their services is increasing. All of this is happening as charities enter their key fundraising period of the year -- between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day -- when up to half of all individual donations are made.

In fact, 2008 and the following year are expected to be one of the most challenging periods charities have seen in some time. According to a survey released by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, donations to charities in 2007 grew by less than they had in years past. While almost two-thirds of charities raised more money in 2007 than 2006, the size of their gains dropped. With daily headlines reminding us that this economic climate will only get tougher, could there be a more compelling reason to give, be it a donation of money, time or skills?

“Families are stretched to the breaking point, and that has strengthened our resolve to do even more,” says Madonna King, president and CEO of Children’s Home Society & Family Services. “Contributions from donors and volunteers are essential, and their generosity makes it possible for us to continue our vital work on behalf of vulnerable children and families, here, at home, and around the world.”

As you look into your wallet and your heart during tough economic times, there are many meaningful ways to give back to the community. Here are some suggestions from nonprofit organizations, including Children’s Home Society & Family Services.

Stretch your holiday dollars to help others
Some stores donate a portion of their holiday sales to charity. It’s a way to increase the impact of your holiday gift giving while doing something good for the community. Another way to help others is to donate to charities in lieu of giving gifts. If you choose to do so, the charity may give you a tax receipt for your donation.

Your time is as good as gold
Choose to donate another precious commodity -- your time. Volunteering for a good cause enables nonprofits to handle increased demand for services, and also allows you to give back in a very personal way. No matter how much time you have to give, you will be welcomed with open arms by those in need.

Where to find volunteer opportunities
Many companies and organizations make volunteering part of their work culture, such as Foresters (TM), a leading fraternal benefit society that provides members with innovative life insurance products and benefits of membership. Foresters customers are known as members and get together locally for such projects as Habitat for Humanity home-builds and to refurbish Ronald McDonald Houses. Last year Foresters members donated 950,000 hours to help more than 400 charities.

Make giving part of your family’s DNA
The holidays are an important time to give back, but don’t forget about the rest of the year. There are worthy nonprofit organizations that offer volunteering opportunities on an ongoing basis. Find a local or national organization that supports a mission you and your family believe in and find a way to be involved regularly. It will help your kids understand important life lessons, help you meet other people and lend a helping hand to those who need your help the most.

Even if your wallet holds less for charitable donations this year, pick up the phone or stop by and volunteer your time wherever you can.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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New Social Web Site Helps People Make Selfless New Year's Resolutions and Track Them Online

/PRNewswire/ -- Every year, millions of people make resolutions to improve their lives. What would happen if -- in addition to losing weight, getting a better job or having a better love life -- everyone made at least one resolution to help others?

As many Americans prepare to confront serious economic and social challenges in 2009, Families First -- the largest and leading non-profit family service agency in Georgia -- is launching the I Am The Solution initiative today with this question in mind, and with a vision to put solutions back on the map.

The I Am The Solution initiative is challenging people to make at least one selfless resolution-to volunteer, give money, refer people to needed services, or acknowledge a personal need for help. And, because resolutions are easy to make but often difficult to keep, the initiative hinges on an interactive, online community -- www.iam-thesolution.org -- where people can stay accountable by creating profiles, setting deadlines, tracking their progress and engaging with others who are making similar resolutions.

Several notable figures have joined the movement, including Atlanta Falcons Linebacker Keith Brooking, hip hop celebrity Big Boi, educator and best-selling author Ron Clark, Atlanta Braves Outfielder Jeff Francoeur, Collective Soul bandmates Ed & Dean Roland and HGTV Deserving Design host Vern Yip, to name a few. These are some of the figures featured in an online video that challenges others to be a part of big solutions by making individual selfless resolutions.

"As our nation is dealing with precedent-setting challenges and transitioning into a new year, with a new presidential administration, we realized there's no better time than now to empower individuals to focus on solutions," said Pat Showell, president & CEO of Families First.

Families First will continue promoting the initiative throughout 2009 -- profiling and awarding individuals who make and keep empowering resolutions, and encouraging individuals to make and keep resolutions throughout the year.

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4-H’ers Treat Elderly to Fall Festival

Instead of heading home after school to get ready to trick-or-treat, Bacon County 4-H’ers will go to the Twin Oaks Nursing Home in Alma, Ga., to hand out treats and good times.

Every year, 4-H’ers run the home’s fall festival – a project that is one of many the students do to help the town’s elderly residents.

“I feel like it’s so important to teach our young people to give back to the community,” said Ann Wildes, the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension 4-H agent in Bacon County. “If you don’t give them the opportunity to give back to make their community better, they’re not going to know how to or where to give back. And we all have the responsibility of serving others and striving to make our communities a better place to live and grow.”

Seven years ago, nursing home staff asked Wildes to help with the festival. The next year, her 4-H’ers planned it, secured prizes, served as escorts, took photographs, worked the booths and cleaned up afterwards.

No resident is left out. Each one who participates receives a prize at each booth. Whether it’s a diet soda, stuffed animal, necklace, chips, plastic clapping hands or a crazy hat, the prizes are safe and fun. The 4-H’ers work closely with the home’s staff to make sure they are.

“The 4-H’ers who help out at this event volunteer to come. They learn the importance of commitment to a project,” Wildes said. “(They learn) the elderly are not to be feared or shunned, and they have a responsibility to bring joy and fun into the lives of the elderly.”

Georgia’s state 4-H leader Bo Ryles says programs that connect young people and the elderly enhance life for both groups.

“Bacon County 4-H’ers’ work with the elderly is outstanding,” Ryles said. “This is just one of many ways 4-H programs give back to their communities across the state.”

Working with the elderly isn’t for every 4-H’er, Wildes said, but some children have a gift for it.

“At one time, we had a young man who didn’t participate in anything but going to the nursing home,” she said. “That was his moment that just shined.”

At first, she said, going to the nursing home was hard for her. She now teaches her students to give back to the community’s seniors.

“They are the ones who have gone before us,” she said. “They have so much wisdom. There is a lot we can learn from them. If we will only take the time and give of ourselves, then we will be the ones blessed.”

The students do more than just the festival. Each month, they hold a bingo game at the Sun City Retirement Home. Wildes started the Sun City game 25 years ago when she was a high school teacher. She continued it when she became the county’s UGA Extension agent 10 years ago.

Wildes uses the game to teach responsibility. To help, students must commit to go to the nursing home every month. One student and her mother did more than just bingo. They bought groceries and cleaned house for a resident who was hospitalized.

The 4-H’ers organize a beauty pageant for elderly residents on Valentine’s Day, an Easter celebration and classes at the local senior center, too.

“To me there’s just a unique connection between the elderly and children, something my age group doesn’t have with them,” Wildes said. “They just have a special relationship. The elderly love it, love it, love it when the children come to visit.”

Wildes wants the students to realize that they will grow old one day, too.

“If you expect someone to come visit you, send you a card, give a gift, you need to be modeling that for the children coming behind you,” she said. “I think our elderly people should never, ever be forgotten.”

By Stephanie Schupska

Stephanie Schupska is a news editor with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.


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Cbeyond Continues to Serve Atlanta Community Through Volunteerism

BUSINESS WIRE --Committed to serving the local community through volunteerism, Cbeyond®, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBEY), a leading IP-based managed services provider, participated in Hands On Atlanta Day 2008, for the fourth consecutive year. More than 150 Cbeyond employees donated over 437 volunteer hours during the annual day of service, which was held Saturday, October 4, 2008.

“Community service is a core value at Cbeyond,” said Jim Geiger, chairman and CEO of Cbeyond. “We are committed to serving the communities where we live and work, and are proud to make a real impact through days of service such as Hands On Atlanta Day 2008.”

With more than 200 volunteer projects taking place citywide, Cbeyond employees chose to make an impact at three specific projects near their homes and neighborhoods. Employees volunteered at the Joseph B. Whitehead YMCA near Washington Park, the Atlanta Union Mission-Shepherd’s Inn in downtown Atlanta and Belmont Hills Elementary in Smyrna. Projects included: building benches and planters, landscaping, cleaning and painting facilities, and providing meal service.

“Each year, the thousands of volunteers who unite to support Hands On Atlanta show what we can achieve when we work together,” said Michael Rosenzweig, president of Hands On Atlanta. “At Hands On Atlanta Day as well as many other volunteer service events, Cbeyond employees have played an instrumental role in addressing community needs and helping to build a better metro Atlanta.”

Cbeyond has made a commitment to make a positive impact in the communities it serves through its community service program Cbeyond Community Connections™. Employees receive paid time-off to volunteer, and have the opportunity to participate in coordinated volunteer service projects or volunteer with an organization of personal interest.

In addition to volunteer service projects, Cbeyond employees give back through non-profit board service. More than 60 percent of Cbeyond’s executive team members serve as board directors of non-profit organizations.

In 2006, Cbeyond was awarded the 2006 Presidential Volunteer Service Award for its commitment to volunteer service. To date, the company has completed more than 175 volunteer projects and donated more than 16,790 volunteer hours.

For more information on Cbeyond’s Community Connections Program visit www.cbeyond.net/cbeyond/cbeyond-involvement.htm.

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30,000 UPS Volunteers to Deliver Community Support

(BUSINESS WIRE)--UPS employees across the globe are rolling up their brown sleeves to do a lot more than deliver packages in October. Throughout the month, UPS employees will participate in the company’s Global Volunteer Month, giving their time, talents and hands-on support to charitable organizations in their local communities.

Since 2003, UPS has designated a week in October as Global Volunteer Week. This year, the week has been extended to a full month to enable more employees to participate. The volunteer efforts will take place across the globe with UPS employees participating in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe and Asia.

Since the program began, the number of employee volunteers has grown from 1,000 in 2003 to more than 30,000 expected to participate worldwide this year.

“UPS employees are encouraged to volunteer throughout the year, but during Global Volunteer Month there is a concentrated effort to engage as many volunteers as possible,” said Lisa Hamilton, president of The UPS Foundation. “If you can get a person to come out just once and volunteer, they will experience first-hand the powers of giving back and then you’ve helped create a volunteer for life.”

UPS employees can choose their own volunteer projects to support in addition to those set up by designated UPS team leaders. The activities set up by team leaders can range from handing out food at food banks to landscaping for daycare centers and schools to reading with children.

“This year we are emphasizing environmental efforts,” Hamilton added. “We are encouraging employees to participate in projects such as litter prevention, waste reduction, recycling and landscape beautification. The most effective environmental project within each UPS region also will be recognized with a $10,000 grant to an environmental cause in that region.”

UPS’s Global Volunteer Month is one of the many examples of the company’s long-standing commitment to volunteerism. Since its founding in 1907, UPS has built a legacy as a caring and responsible corporate citizen. Whether through involvement with United Way, The UPS Foundation or volunteerism, UPS provides assistance to programs that address social and community issues including education, poverty, homelessness, hunger, illness and unemployment.

Founded in 1951 and based in Atlanta, The UPS Foundation’s major initiatives include programs that support increased global volunteerism, literacy and hunger relief. The UPS Foundation pursues these initiatives by identifying specific projects where its support can help produce a measurable social impact. In 2007, The UPS Foundation donated more than $46 million to charitable organizations worldwide. Visit community.ups.com for more information about UPS's community involvement.

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FedEx Launches Fourth Annual FedEx Cares Week

(BUSINESS WIRE)--FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) kicked-off FedEx Cares Week, its annual week of service on September 15. More than 3000 employees and contractors from around the world will donate their time and talents to serving local organizations dedicated to improving the quality of life in the communities they serve.

FedEx Cares Week will be celebrated Sept. 15 – 20 in more than 40 cities around the world, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, New York, Newark, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C. This is the first year that team members outside the United States will participate in FedEx Cares Week, with Australia, Bermuda, China, Dominican Republic, Hong Kong, Mexico and the Philippines among the countries involved.

“FedEx Cares Week provides a unique opportunity for FedEx employees and contractors to work together and make a difference in the communities they serve,” said Rose Flenorl, manager, Social Responsibility, FedEx. “A passion for volunteerism is part of the FedEx culture and we are excited to extend FedEx Cares Week this year and support more than 40 communities around the world.”

Now in its fourth year, FedEx Cares Week serves as a formal kick-off for the annual FedEx United Way campaign, as well as providing an opportunity for FedEx team members to give back to their local communities. FedEx employees and contractors around the world volunteer hundreds of thousands of hours each year to make their communities better places to live, work and play.

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Squeezed by Sluggish Economy, Many Find Charity Begins at Home -- On the Computer

(ARA) - The downturn in the economy and rising food and gas prices are taking a toll on charities and non-profit organizations.

Soup kitchens, churches, international aid organizations and schools report donations of all kinds are down as folks struggle to make their own ends meet. For the majority of Americans, giving cash to their favorite cause will be a hardship this year, and charity officials say they are seeing people in higher-income brackets needing food and supplies.

That doesn’t mean, however, that there aren’t ways you can make a difference. One simple thing you can do to support your favorite charity or non-profit organization is log onto one of several charitable search engines that will donate money for every search you conduct, such as www.SearchandGive.com. Using Microsoft’s “Search and Give” is free and easy. Simply select the charity you’d like to support then use the site every time you need to search the Web.

Each time you type a search query into the search box, a penny will be donated to the charity you have selected. Charities you can contribute to include non-profits, local churches, schools, orphanages and foreign aid programs. Microsoft tracks your earnings and makes an annual collective donation to your selected organization.

Nina Gaw, who is both a teacher and the parent of twins who attend St. Gregory the Catholic School in Virginia Beach, Va., received an e-mail through her Hotmail account letting her know about the Search and Give fundraising program last year. “I checked it out, liked what I read and decided to give it a try,” says Gaw.

Since she was the first person at the school to learn about the site, Gaw signed up to be the school’s program coordinator, and as such took on the task of spreading the word about Search and Give to everyone at the school. “To kick off the program, I put up posters around the school, passed out fliers and sent e-mails to everyone I know,” she says.

And her effort paid off. The school raised $3,700 through the program last year. They plan to use the money to upgrade technology at the school. “We’re going to buy three or four Smart Boards this summer, items that weren’t in the budget for the 2008 – 2009 school year due to budget cuts,” she says. “Hopefully we’ll be able to purchase even more next year. Our goal is to double, or maybe even triple our earnings in ’08 – ’09.”

Log on to www.SearchandGive.com to learn more about the program and start earning money for your favorite charity today.

Here are some other ways you can donate to your favorite cause without spending money:

1. Volunteer Your Time.
What better way is there to connect with your community than to give a little back? By volunteering to work a few hours a week at a soup kitchen or as a tutor for underprivileged kids, you’re providing a much needed service the charity doesn’t have to pay to receive.

2. Organize or participate in a fundraising garage sale.
If you have a cause near and dear to your heart, hand out fliers and ask your neighbors to drop off items they no longer need that you can sell at a garage sale for your favorite charity. It’s likely someone in the community would be willing to pay $15 for that dinner table, or $5 for the table lamp your next door neighbor was just going to throw away. A three-day sale in the church function hall -- a place you won’t have to pay to rent -- could easily net thousands of dollars.

3. Donate gently used goods to your local Goodwill, United Way or Salvation Army shelter.
When you drop off said goods, you’re making more of an impact than you may think. Not only will proceeds from the sale of the items you drop off go towards programs these organizations run, you’re providing work for someone in need of a job.

4. Organize, host or dedicate an event.
While this tends toward a greater time commitment that may span a few months, any charitable organization can benefit immensely from fundraising or awareness events hosted in its name. If you don’t have time to put on a full-fledged event, perhaps you can ask the guests who come to your next dinner party to bring along some canned food to donate to the local food shelf.

5. Share information with the charity.
Sharing crucial information with a charity can be extremely valuable. Whether it's sending along news about events, legislation, research, technology, trends, fundraising/marketing techniques, or complementary organizations, passing information is a time- and cost-saver that any charity would be glad to have.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Promise Place Holds Volunteer Orientation at Library

Promise Place, the council on domestic violence that serves over 1,000 women and children each year in Fayette, Spalding, Pike and Upson counties is in need of volunteers. A volunteer orientation will be held on Saturday, June 28th from 10am-1pm at the Flint River Library in Griffin located at 800 Memorial Drive.

There are many different ways that you can help support our mission and keep our organization thriving; helping with fundraisers, working one-on-one with victims who need support, childcare while the mothers are in classes or support groups, helping in the office, being involved with the youth education programs about teen dating violence, giving support to the clients while in court, providing transportation for the shelter residents to their appointments locally, helping to maintain the shelter and much more.

For more information or to register call the Volunteer Coordinator at 770-719-3486. For more information about Promise Place and their programs for victims of domestic violence call 770-460-1604.

Another First for Fayette County

Fayette County is the first community in Georgia to launch an older adult volunteer leadership program. It is being funded by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Hands on Georgia, the Community Foundation, Clothes Less Traveled and Almquist Hansen, LLC.

This non- profit community based program is under the auspices of FACTOR, the Fayette Alliance Coordinating Teamwork, Outreach and Resources.

According to Becky Smith, the executive director of FACTOR, the program is designed to provide active, community spirited older adults with the opportunity to learn more about their community; the important issues and challenges it faces; identify the primary community needs and determine how they can become involved and make a difference by helping to shape Fayette’s future.

Encore! Fayette is patterned after a number of other highly successful programs being operated around the country. Tom Hamall, the organizer of the program, has been involved in establishing other senior and traditional leadership programs in Florida and Ohio. He also served on the board of Leadership Atlanta when he was president of the metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.

Hamall noted that today’s older citizens are very different from their parents. Their life span is longer and good health generally continues for 20 years after retirement. For many there is now time to get involved in community.

Fayette County has over 15,000 sixty five plus seniors. That number will grow to over 45,000 by 2030. Smith pointed out that these seniors represent a vast and often untapped wealth of experience. “We want to bring together a number of like- minded citizens to learn more about the community, gain new skills, explore new interests and become involved. That is why the acronym “Encore” has given to the program, because its goal is to engage retirees in Enriching and Nurturing Community by Offering their Resources and Experiences to improve the quality of life through civic participation.

Seniors will be recruited to participate through a variety of means including churches, senior centers, civic and social clubs, corporate human resource departments, the local media and other means.

The program will be conducted through a series of sessions over a 10 week period during the months of September, October and November. It is designed to provide participants with knowledge about the history, background, current status and future direction of the County and its municipalities, as well as the current and future programs and needs of its public and private organizations and agencies. It will also showcase the opportunities for volunteer involvement at all levels.

The program components will be presented by a cross-section of government, civic, corporate and non- profit organization officials and staff members.

Interested individuals and organizations can learn more about Encore; arrange for a presentation and receive applications for participation by calling FACTOR at 770-716-2797 or go to the soon to be opened web site at www.encorefayette.org.

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Harvey Honored for "Doing The Best You Can"

On June 3, 2008, Miss Edith Harvey received the Daily Point of Light award at the 2008 National Conference on Volunteering and Service in Atlanta. The award ceremony was the conclusion to a three-day conference. Miss Edith, as she is fondly referred to, received this award due to the goodness of her heart. She fulfills a community need and serves those who are disconnected from the larger community – seniors. She has been volunteering at the Lawrenceville Senior Center since 1978 by preparing meals for the seniors. Miss Edith simply states, “When you volunteer, you think about others needing help and forget about yourself. By helping others, you are helping yourself.”

Just her presence is quite humbling. To see someone give of herself selflessly, after raising 19 children, 11 of her own, six stepchildren, two foster children, and surviving two marriages during her lifetime. Somehow, she has found time to help prepare meals, rock babies to sleep at Gwinnett Medical Center in Duluth, serve on the choir at New Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church and mentor inmates assigned to work in the kitchen at the Lawrenceville Senior Center.

Her tireless and countless hours of volunteering have also been recognized by other organizations, including the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta, the Met Life Foundation, 11 Alive, Bank of America, Hands on Georgia and 100 Black Women. At 94 years old, she is absolutely astounding and a true inspiration. Her advice to all, “Do the best, when you can, even if it’s for an hour and mean it from the heart.”

To find out about volunteer opportunities, log on to www.gwinnettseniorservices or call Gary Galloway, Volunteer Coordinator of Gwinnett County Senior Services at 770.822.8837.

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