Points of Light and The Walt Disney Company “Share the Joy” With Those Who Need It Most by Encouraging Families to Volunteer on Family Volunteer Day, November 18

More than two decades of commitment to strengthen communities through family volunteering
Nov 17, 2017 10:30 AM ET

NEW YORK, November 17, 2017 /3BL Media/ – Family Volunteer Day, powered by generationOn, the youth service division of Points of Light, and sponsored by The Walt Disney Company, is a global day of service created to encourage families to volunteer together in support of their neighborhoods and communities – not only on Nov. 18, 2017, the day of the event, but also throughout the holiday season and every day during the year.

Family Volunteer Day occurs annually on the third Saturday of November around the world, and provides families with volunteer opportunities to experience the benefits of service to others. By encouraging family involvement, parents instill in their children the spirit of giving, supporting their neighbors and improving their communities. Families can volunteer through local service projects in their own neighborhoods by searching their city or among the database of more than 100 DIY projects, both of which can be found on the Family Volunteer Day page.

“Taking part in family-friendly volunteer projects demonstrates first-hand, how actions, big or small, can make a positive difference in the lives of others,” said Elissa Margolis, senior vice president of Enterprise Social Responsibility for The Walt Disney Company. “Disney’s long-standing commitment to volunteer-service dates back almost 35 years through our very own Disney VoluntEARS program. We are proud to continue to sponsor Family Volunteer Day, which encourages people to join together and provide happiness, comfort and inspiration to families around the globe.”  

On Nov. 18, volunteer projects will take place across the world to celebrate the power of families who volunteer together. Three key projects will take place in Los Angeles, Mexico City and Hong Kong that include Disney VoluntEARS and community members working side-by-side in projects that vary from environmental clean up to community building and more.

“Volunteering as a family is a great way to spend meaningful time together, to pass down values from parents to children, and to reinforce the idea that every person, regardless of age, has skills and talents that can change communities,” said Wendy Rhein, chief strategy and engagement officer, Points of Light. “generationOn, the youth and family division of Points of light, is thrilled to work with Disney to celebrate and encourage family volunteering.”

Families are encouraged to use #FamilyVolunteerDay on social media to share images or videos of their family volunteering or raise awareness of the Day. For more ideas and inspiration on how families can make a difference not only on days of service but also throughout the year, they can visit generationOn.org.

CONTACT:          

Raquel Perazzo, Child’s Play Communications, 917-589-7299, rp@childsplaypr.com.

Kate Kerley, Points of Light, 917-746-8171, kkerley@pointsoflight.org.

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About generationOn

generationOn, the youth service division of Points of Light, inspires, equips and mobilizes kids and teens to make their mark on the world through volunteer service. Programs equip youth with the skills to make a difference, while also supporting the development of caring and empathy. Through service with generationOn, youth are empowered to be compassionate changemakers in their communities and the world. For more information, visit generationon.org.

Points of Light

Points of Light - the largest organization in the world dedicated to volunteer service - mobilizes millions of people to take action that is changing the world. Through affiliates in 250 cities and partnerships with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages more than four million volunteers in 30 million hours of service each year. We bring the power of people to bear where it matters most. For more information, go to pointsoflight.org.

The Walt Disney Company 

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international entertainment and media enterprise with the following business segments: media networks, parks and resorts, studio entertainment, consumer products and interactive media. Being a good corporate citizen is a time-honored Disney tradition. Through contributions, collaborations with local organizations, in-kind gifts and volunteering, Disney helps to brighten the lives of kids and families in need and strengthen communities around the world. For more information visit, thewaltdisneycompany.com/citizenship or twitter.com/CitizenDisney.