OAKLAND, Calif., January 6, 2021 – Now is the time to support our young people in giving back in innovative ways and volunteering in their communities. As they lead with service, today’s young people are modeling one of the greatest lessons preached by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “If you want to be great, wonderful. But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. … [B]y giving that [new] definition of greatness, it means that everybody can be great because everybody can serve.”
As our nation remembers Dr. King on January 18, 2021, with a day of service via volunteering and advocacy, VolunteerMatch, the web’s destination for volunteer engagement, partners with DoSomething.org, the largest organization dedicated exclusively to young people and social change, to engage young people in effective and safe volunteering for not just one day – but as part of a lifetime of caring and compassion.
“Young people have always responded to the unprecedented social challenges faced by our communities with incredible dedication and passion. At VolunteerMatch, we are proud to stand with DoSomething.org this winter to further underline our mutual, ongoing commitments to making it even easier and more compelling for young people to be a force for change. We are honored DoSomething has chosen us to host their curated Spotlight Campaigns and Strength Through Service program, and we look forward to helping galvanize teens to serve with top causes important to GenZ, on our new dedicated youth volunteering site,” said Laura Plato, Chief Solutions Officer at VolunteerMatch.
DoSomething’s Strength Through Service program offers a pathway for young people nationwide to safely provide for those affected by COVID-19, tackle racial inequalities, and show up for their communities with volunteerism and advocacy. Running from New Years to MLK Day of Service (January 18) and through Black History Month (February), Strength Through Service also launches DoSomething’s new Volunteer Credit Program, where young volunteers can earn verified volunteer hours by participating and help reach a 25,000-hour community goal.
“Our young people are deeply concerned with solving issues today, not tomorrow. They want to rebuild the neighborhoods they love, combat racial injustice and support those disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Their determination brings to mind another of Dr. King’s speeches, the one from the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. In it he reminded America of “the fierce urgency of now.’ Tomorrow is not the time to affect justice; it’s today,” said Plato.
Learn more, and explore volunteer opportunities: dosomething.org/VolunteerMatch
About VolunteerMatch
Founded in 1998, VolunteerMatch is the most effective way to recruit highly qualified volunteers for nonprofits. We are the largest nonprofit network in the world with the most nonprofits and volunteer opportunities. We believe everyone should have the chance to make a difference. That's why we make it easy for good people and good causes to connect. We've connected millions of people with great places to volunteer and helped tens of thousands of organizations better leverage volunteers to create real impact. For more information visit www.volunteermatch.org.
About DoSomething.org
DoSomething.org is the largest organization exclusively for young people and social change. We're activating 5 million young people (and counting!) to make positive change, online and off, in every US area code and in over 131 countries. When you join DoSomething.org, you join something bigger than yourself. You team up with the young people who have clothed half of America's youth in homeless shelters. And cleaned up 3.7 million cigarette butts from the streets. And run the largest youth-led sports equipment drive in the world. And more! You've got the power and the passion to make an impact -- we'll help you get it done. Let’s Do This!
Direct link to press release on 3BL Media found here.