Photo-Op Advisory - "Power of the Hour" Takes Over Bay St. to Kick-Off
Campaign Celebrating National Volunteer Week
Friday, April 16th, 2010 at 11:30AM-1:00PM on the South-East Corner of King & Bay
TORONTO, April 15 /CNW/ - On Friday, April 16, GetInvolved.ca's 'Power of the Hour' campaign will gather Canada's top volunteer leaders, one of Canada's leading CEOs and a 12 year-old fundraising dynamo to kick-off their National Volunteer Week (April 18-22) campaign, with a fun and provocative photo op.
Mike Tierney, President of UPS Canada and Chair of the Corporate Council on Volunteering and 12 year-old volunteer dynamo and Power of the Hour Ambassador Amanda Belzowski (www.lemonade4heart.org/), dressed in a business suit, will be kicking off their National Volunteer Week campaign by recruiting Bay Street executives and downtown businesses to pledge volunteer hours for 2010.
It's all part of their commitment to Power of the Hour. Since its January launch, Power of the Hour has exceeded its goal of 2,000,000 volunteer hours for 2010 and is proud to announce that a recent pledge of 1.1 million hours by Habitat-for-Humanity has driven the campaign's total to 3.3 million volunteer hours.
Belzowski and Tierney are appearing on television in a series of ads (http://qmediasolutions.com/qwork/poth-april-30-second-spot/) over the next three weeks featuring CEOs asking businesses to celebrate National Volunteer Week with a commitment to giving back. There are three spots running on national television throughout the week.
"I think having Amanda alongside powerful CEOs is a great way to drive home the important role that we all play In community building. Torontonians will have the opportunity to make a 'Power Pledge' and commit to volunteering at our event tomorrow, but I encourage the rest of Canada to pledge and track their hours 24-7 online at www.getinvolved.ca/power," says Dorothy Engelman, Founder, Power of the Hour.
"Over 46 percent of Canadians volunteer for not-for-profit organizations in their communities and across the country," said Ruth MacKenzie, President and CEO, Volunteer Canada. "National Volunteer Week, this country's largest celebration of volunteers, is a time to recognize their tremendous contribution. The week-long event also prompts Canadians to think about how they can roll up their sleeves, share their skills, and better their communities and the lives of others."
INTERVEW INFORMATION -------------------- Amanda Belzowski and Mike Tierney will be available for interviews. Additional Interviews: ----------- - Dorothy Engelman, Senior Partner, q media solutions (www.qmediasolutions.com/) and Founder, Get Involved (www.getinvolved.ca) and Power of the Hour (www.getinvolved.ca/power/) is available for interviews throughout Volunteer Week - Ruth MacKenzie, President and CEO of Volunteer Canada is available for interviews from Ottawa on April 16, 2010 and throughout Volunteer Week Also on-site for the event: --------------------------- - Sue Neal, Regional Director, Toronto Investors Group (Sponsor of National Volunteer Week) - Wendy Mitchell, Director of Corporate Citizenship and Fund Development, Volunteer Canada - Deborah Gardner, Executive Director, Volunteer Toronto and representatives from leading Power of the Hour not-for-profit organizations including: Habitat for Humanity, the Canadian Association of Riding for the Disabled (CARD) and Canadian Blood Services. CONTACT FOR INTERVIEWS OR FURTHER INFORMATION: ---------------------------------------------- Patrick McCaully Pointman Public Relations 416-855-9427 BACKGROUND: -----------
Power of the Hour (www.getinvolved.ca/power/) leads the nation as an online portal that groups, individuals and companies can use to pledge and track volunteer hours. The site is supported by a national television advertising campaign featuring everyday Canadians and high profile CEOs from 22 of Canada's leading corporations including Manulife, RBC, Home Depot and Microsoft. Power of the Hour was developed by Getinvolved.ca in partnership with TVO, Volunteer Canada and its Corporate Council on Volunteering. Getinvolved.ca is a national social networking community matching thousands of members to volunteering opportunities with over 500 national not-for-profit organizations.
About Volunteer Canada: As the national voice for volunteerism, Volunteer Canada leads the advancement of volunteerism in strengthening society and improving quality of life in Canada by recognizing volunteer involvement as essential to building healthy, quality communities.
Working with its members and partners in communities across Canada, Volunteer Canada develops and implements a wide range of research and public policy initiatives, as well as programs, which all relate to volunteerism and the voluntary sector. For more than a decade, Volunteer Canada has been working with businesses of all sizes across the country to help them develop, improve and justify their employee volunteer programs.
About National Volunteer Week: National Volunteer Week is Canada's largest annual celebration and recognition campaign of volunteers. From April 18 to 24, organizations and individuals across the country will thank the 12.5 million volunteers from coast to coast that help make their work possible and build better communities. National Volunteer Week was first proclaimed in 1943 as an initiative to draw the public's attention to the vital contribution of women to the war effort on the home front. In the late 1960s, the focus was revived and broadened to include all community volunteers. National Volunteer Week is delivered by Volunteer Canada and made possible through funding by Investors Group.
For further information: Patrick McCaully, Pointman Public Relations, (416) 855-9427
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