THE INTERNET IS CHANGING THE WAY THAT AMERICANS VOLUNTEER

CharityGuide.org – The Internet Antidote to the "I'm Too Busy to Volunteer" Syndrome

Chicago, IL September 28, 2006 -- To boost national volunteerism rates, Charity Guide is leveraging the internet to reach "would-be volunteers" on the cause of their greatest interest and at their moment of greatest willingness to act. The truly flexible volunteer opportunities featured at CharityGuide.org allow the internet generation to make a difference at anytime, from anywhere, in as few as 15 minutes. No advanced planning or registration is required.

Charity Guide calls the approach "Volunteering On-Demand." For instance, their website, CharityGuide.org, makes it possible for:

• busy office workers to volunteer during lunch breaks
• busy college students to volunteer between classes
• busy parents to volunteer after their kids go to sleep
• busy business travelers to volunteer from their hotel rooms

The volunteer projects featured at CharityGuide.org are developed by investigative journalists who provide specific "how to" instructions and hyperlinks that make it possible to accomplish the service projects in the time promised.

As a result, busy people with unpredictable schedules are finally able to volunteer for their favorite cause, including animal welfare, children's issues, community development, environmental protection, healthcare, and poverty. The volunteer projects can be successfully completed: in 15 minutes, in a few hours (once, or each week), or during a volunteer vacation.

Search Engine Optimization:

Charity Guide uses search engine optimization and other advanced internet promotion techniques to reach and appeal to prospective volunteers. Most people find the volunteer opportunities featured at CharityGuide.org when searching for related topics at Google, Yahoo, or MSN. Others are inspired to volunteer via social media links in blogs, forums, and web portals.

Trudy Kuehner of Philadelphia found CharityGuide.org via a search at Yahoo. Charity Guide has "changed her life", and, thanks to the volunteer work she has done since then, the lives of many others. "With Charity Guide, nobody has the excuse anymore of not knowing how to volunteer," Kuehner said. "And now, we all have the time."

"Volunteering On-Demand":

Volunteering On-Demand means that all of the "15 minute" and "few hour" service projects featured at CharityGuide.org are entirely flexible and immediately actionable. They can be accomplished at anytime, from anywhere.

That approach is appreciated by the more than 700,000 "would-be volunteers" per year who are inspired by Charity Guide, including Dee Vasquez of Chicago: "Charity Guide showed me how to quickly make a real difference in a sick child's life. I love sending inspirational cards to hospitalized children -– it puts a smile on my face. Who knew I could touch a child’s heart in just 15 minutes?"

Michael Organ, Executive Director and founder of Charity Guide, says: "We recognize that volunteering does as much for the volunteer as it does for the recipients. So, our focus is leveraging the internet to make it possible for busy people to achieve a greater sense of meaning and fulfillment in their lives, by helping others."

About Charity Guide:

Charity Guide is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting flexible volunteerism, by inspiring and facilitating acts of kindness. CharityGuide.org features volunteer service projects that can be accomplished in 15 minutes, a few hours, or during volunteer vacations.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Michael Organ
Executive Director, Charity Guide
847-830-0980
organ@charityguide.org