Volunteer Toronto Celebrates National Volunteer Week by challenging youth to volunteer 5000 hours for the 4th ChangeTheWorld Ontario Youth Volunteer Challenge in Toronto
TORONTO, April 16, 2012 /CNW/ - Volunteer Toronto is happy to celebrate and recognize volunteers working to make a difference in Toronto during National Volunteer Week (April 15 - 21, 2012) by challenging the next generation of volunteers in Toronto - high school aged youth - to volunteer 5000 hours during the 4th Annual ChangeTheWorld Ontario Youth Volunteer Challenge, April 15 - May 6 2012.
ChangeTheWorld is a three week campaign, supported by the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, in partnership with the Ontario Volunteer Centre Network (OVCN) and volunteer centres across Ontario. Now celebrating its 4th year in Toronto, the goal of this year's Ontario-wide challenge is to engage 25,000 youth for a minimum of 3 volunteer hours each during campaign.
"National Volunteer Week is often seen as a chance to recognize volunteers currently making a difference in the world... But it's also an opportunity to reach out to the next generations of volunteers that aren't yet active in their communities and challenge them to be a part of the change," Executive Director of Volunteer Toronto, Deborah Gardner explains.
"We're helping youth to learn the importance of giving back while helping the Nonprofit sector to understand the impact youth volunteerism can have, and how to harness it."
Non-profit organizations throughout the city will be opening their doors to welcome high school students to volunteer in a variety of efforts from food drives to ribbon making, community clean ups to providing event support. Youth can get involved with friends, peers and family by visiting the Volunteer Toronto ChangeTheWorld portal at www.volunteertoronto.ca/changetheworld or www.volunteertoronto.ca/volunteer
Upcoming events and highlights of this program include:
30 youth aged 14 - 18 to participate in Youth Challenge food drive in partnership with the Daily Bread Food Bank, on Wednesday, April 25th from 6:00 - 8:30 PM. A unique opportunity for youth get a behind the scenes look volunteering while making a difference in the lives of their fellow Torontonians.
150+ to volunteer with East Scarborough Storefront in the Kingston-Galloway priority neighbourhood on Saturday, April 21 from 9:30 AM - 12:00 Noon. Volunteers work in groups to clean up this neighbourhood - volunteers will come together to beautify and build this thriving community.
500 Jewish youth from across Toronto coming together on Sunday, April 22nd to make a difference at over a dozen concurrent volunteer events organized by J-Serve and benefiting Nonprofits from across Toronto as a part of ChangeTheWorld and the Global day of Jewish Youth Service.
About Volunteer Toronto: As the primary conduit for volunteerism in Toronto, the Volunteer Centre is integral to building the capacity of communities in Toronto and the well-being of the City as a whole. Through Education and outreach, Volunteer Toronto transforms the idea of civic engagement into civic action. Playing a vital connective role, Volunteer Toronto supports the recruitment and management of an estimated 1 million individuals engaged in acts of volunteerism throughout the City.
Jessica Reynolds, [email protected] - 416-961-6888 x 225
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