VolunteerMatch and the American Humane Association Team Up Online to Find Volunteers for Kids and Animals

American Humane Association
Wednesday, 21 February 2001

Kids and animals throughout the U.S. now have something to cheer—and bark, crow or meow—about thanks to VolunteerMatch (www.volunteermatch.org) and the American Humane Association (AHA). The organizations have teamed up to put the Internet to work for kids, animals and people who want to help them by adding a customized version of VolunteerMatch to the AHA web site.

Visitors to AHA's home page (www.americanhumane.org) can seamlessly access the VolunteerMatch database to search and sign up for volunteer opportunities. With nearly 6,000 children and animal organizations updating thousands of volunteer opportunities on VolunteerMatch every day, it is no surprise that hundreds of people have already signed up to volunteer through the AHA site since the partnership's launch in Fall, 2000.

"VolunteerMatch uses the Internet to make a positive difference in every facet of our communities," said Jay Backstrand, president and founder of VolunteerMatch. "We are honored to assist AHA in its critical search for volunteers compassionate about helping both children and animals."

By harnessing the power of the Internet for charitable purposes, VolunteerMatch has jump-started volunteer efforts in the U.S. Volunteers simply enter their ZIP code on the VolunteerMatch home page to receive a list of local volunteer opportunities customized to their interests and schedule. In addition, any nonprofit or tax-exempt organization can use VolunteerMatch to recruit volunteers from the web. The free public service offers the Internet's largest database of social service opportunities, and has already matched over 360,000 people to 13,000 nonprofits nationwide.

"Thanks to VolunteerMatch, thousands of child welfare organizations and animal shelters nationwide have the potential to reach and recruit more volunteers than ever before," said Jack Sparks, director of communications for the AHA. "The result? At-risk kids will receive needed help and animals-in-need will find new homes. Two paws up, VolunteerMatch!

About VolunteerMatch

VolunteerMatch (www.volunteermatch.org) is the nonprofit web site dedicated to using the power of the Internet to help people help each other. As the world's largest online database of volunteer opportunities, VolunteerMatch makes it easier than ever before to volunteer. Volunteers merely enter their ZIP code on the VolunteerMatch home page to find local, national and 'Virtual' volunteering opportunities, customized to interests and schedule. VolunteerMatch has already made over 360,000 connections between volunteers and 13,000+ nonprofit organizations nationwide, providing real-world community assistance in 3,000+ U.S. cities. VolunteerMatch has received awards from the Smithsonian Institution and MIT, and been recognized for its social service efforts on The Oprah Winfrey Show, MSNBC, and in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Reader's Digest, Good Housekeeping and Parade.

For more information, or to contact American Humane Association, see their website at: www.americanhumane.org