Points of Light Kicks-off Second Annual "Global Volunteer Month"

Organization calls on citizens, corporations and local communities to recognize volunteers in their communities and take part in local opportunities as the need for volunteers rises.

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Points of Light

Mar 31, 2021, 09:00 ET

ATLANTA, March 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Points of Light, the world's largest nonprofit dedicated to accelerating people-powered change, today announced April as the second annual Global Volunteer Month – a time to recognize the impact of volunteering and the power of volunteers to tackle society's greatest challenges. Introduced in April 2020, Global Volunteer Month was launched as a galvanizing moment to inspire and activate volunteers in addition to supporting the most vulnerable populations affected. And over the past year, in the midst of a pandemic, volunteers have joined the ranks of frontline workers and first responders to fight against COVID-19, support the vaccination roll-out, address systemic racism and ensure equity and opportunity for all.

"We launched Global Volunteer Month last year during a time of great uncertainty that made it even more important for us to find ways to unite communities and connect people despite distance," said Natalye Paquin, president and CEO of Points of Light. "2020 marked one of the most civically engaged years in history and demonstrated that, despite all the obstacles, the powerful force in our world today is people-powered change."

Points of Light's Civic Life Today report in Fall 2020 shared that 95% of people plan to maintain or increase their current level of involvement to do more after the pandemic passes. To meet that need, the organization recently launched Points of Light Engage, the world's largest digital hub for volunteering and community engagement opportunities to help connect people to even more at-home and in-person opportunities than before. This database aims to connect eager volunteers with growing opportunities in cities around the world, where the number of volunteers is increasing rapidly as some metropolitan areas are seeing between approximately 4,000 and 21,000 new volunteers each month, currently being driven by vaccination efforts. This new tool also offer tips and best practices for safely volunteering from home or in communities.

Throughout Global Volunteer Month, Points of Light is calling on everyone to help build our society back better than before the pandemic through volunteering this April – whether from home or safely in their community – using Points of Light's platform to find an opportunity in their own backyard at https://pointsoflight.org/volunteer/.

Global Volunteer Month is a joint effort with Phillips 66, returning this year as lead partner, alongside supporting partner The UPS Foundation.

"We know from conversations with our non-profit partners that after this extremely difficult year, their needs are more significant than ever," said Phillips 66 Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Corporate Communications Sonya Reed. "That's why we're excited to join Points of Light again this year and to reengage with those communities that are still struggling through this challenging environment."

To find creative ways to get involved, volunteers are encouraged to visit Points of Light's website for more information on how they can make an impact in their local community, including:

Learn: explore resources on virtual volunteerism for individuals who want to volunteer from inside their home and safety tips for people that choose to volunteer outside of their home.
Find: search a data base for virtual and in-person volunteer opportunities, DIY projects that you can do from your home, and local Points of Light affiliates to learn what your community needs.
Share: inspire others with the stories of people who are taking part in volunteerism or uplifting their community in new and inventive ways by posting on social media.

Those who wish to participate in Global Volunteer Month are encouraged to use #GlobalVolunteerMonth for social media posts related to Global Volunteer Month.

About Points of Light
Points of Light is a global nonprofit organization that inspires, equips and mobilizes millions of people to take action that changes the world. We envision a world in which every individual discovers the power to make a difference, creating healthy communities in vibrant, participatory societies. Through 177 affiliates across 38 countries, and in partnership with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages 5 million volunteers in 16 million hours of service each year. We bring the power of people to bear where it's needed most. For more information, visit www.pointsoflight.org.

About Phillips 66
Phillips 66 is a diversified energy manufacturing and logistics company. With a portfolio of Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties businesses, the company processes, transports, stores and markets fuels and products globally. Phillips 66 Partners, the company's master limited partnership, is integral to the portfolio. Headquartered in Houston, the company has 14,300 employees committed to safety and operating excellence. Phillips 66 had $55 billion of assets as of Dec. 31, 2020. For more information, visit www.phillips66.com or follow us on Twitter @Phillips66Co.

About The UPS Foundation
Since its founding in 1907, UPS has built a legacy as a caring and responsible corporate citizen, supporting programs that provide long-term solutions to community needs. Founded in 1951, The UPS Foundation leads its global citizenship programs and is responsible for facilitating community involvement to local, national, and global communities. In 2020, UPS and its employees, active and retired, invested more than $122.3 million in charitable giving around the world. The UPS Foundation can be found on the web at UPS.com/Foundation and @UPS_Foundation on Twitter.

Media Contact:
Ryan Zimmerman
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SOURCE Points of Light