generationOn and The Walt Disney Company Celebrate the Power of Family Giving During 26th Annual Family Volunteer Day

Family Volunteer Day, powered by generationOn, the youth service division of Points of Light, and sponsored by The Walt Disney Company, is a day of service that demonstrates and celebrates the power of families who volunteer together, supporting their communities and neighborhoods.

Taking place today, this national day of service is held annually on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, and offers families a chance to experience the benefits of volunteerism and service, instill in their children the spirit of giving, support their neighbors and improve their communities. Families volunteered through local service projects or downloadable DIY projects, which can be found on the Family Volunteer Day page.

“Family Volunteer Day introduces kids and teens to volunteering, and helps create and deepen connections to their community,” said Delores Morton, executive director of generationOn. “Activating families and helping youth to develop a sense of compassion and a commitment to serving others is a core part of this day and our mission.”

The signature Family Volunteer Day event took place today at the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank. Volunteers from the Disney VoluntEARS program and L.A. Works sorted fresh fruit and helped the foodbank prepare for the busy holiday season. Youth in attendance volunteered alongside their parents and decorated Disney Healthy Living placemats, which will be donated to local education programs.

“Family volunteer projects are a meaningful way to share the joy with others and show kids first-hand how their actions can make a difference in caring for the world we share,” said Kevin Callahan, vice president of community engagement and strategic philanthropy at Disney. “Disney is proud to sponsor Family Volunteer Day to inspire kids and families to develop a lifelong love of service, while making our communities healthier, greener and stronger.”

“We saw a great turn out this year, and love seeing families engaging together and building these life-long memories around service,” said Morton. “We are thankful to Disney for its ongoing support of this day of service.”

Families who go to generationOn.org/fvd and upload a story with a photo of their Family Volunteer Day service will be eligible to win one of four $500 VISA gift cards or one of five “family night out” prize packages for dinner and a movie, valued at $160 each. Additionally, families are encouraged to use #FamilyVolunteerDay on social media to share ideas and raise awareness of the Day. For more ideas and inspiration on how families can make a difference not only on days of service but also throughout the year, visit generationOn.org/fvd.

Contact:          

Sarah Fanslau, generationOn, (917) 746-8164, [email protected]

Raquel Perazzo, Child’s Play Communications, (212) 488-2060 x13, [email protected]

About generationOn

generationOn, the youth service division of Points of Light, provides programs and resources that support the development of caring, compassionate and capable kids and teens through service, empowering them to become changemakers in their communities and the world.

Points of Light

Points of Light – the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service – inspires, equips and mobilizes millions of people to take action that is changing the world. Through affiliates in 250 cities across more than 30 countries and partnerships with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages 4 million volunteers in 30 million hours of service each year. For more information, go to http://www.pointsoflight.org/.

The Walt Disney Company 

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international entertainment and media enterprise with the following business segments: media networks, parks and resorts, studio entertainment, consumer products and interactive media. Being a good corporate citizen is a time-honored Disney tradition. Through contributions, collaborations with local organizations, in-kind gifts and volunteering, Disney helps to brighten the lives of kids and families in need and strengthen communities around the world. For more information visit, thewaltdisneycompany.com/citizenship or twitter.com/CitizenDisney.

Los Angeles Regional Food Bank

The Food Bank is a non-profit organization established in 1973 and is one of the largest food banks in the United States. Through a network of 650 charitable agencies and more than 1,000 agencies and program sites, the Food Bank distributes one million pounds of food each week throughout Los Angeles County and serves one million individuals annually including 400,000 children. For more information, visit lafoodbank.org.

L.A. Works

L.A. Works is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, volunteer action center that creates and implements hands-on community service projects throughout the greater Los Angeles area. We strive to empower Angelenos to address pressing social issues through volunteerism and community collaborations. For more information, visit laworks.com.