The AOL Time Warner Foundation, the UPS Foundation, Microsoft Corp. and Cisco Systems today announced joint sponsorship and development support for the new USA Freedom Corps Volunteer Network Web site, created by the online charity portal Network for Good and the Corporation for National and Community Service. The site makes an unprecedented 50,000 government and non-profit volunteer organizations available to Internet users via one search engine.
President Bush announced the redesigned www.usafreedomcorp.gov site and the USA Freedom Corps Volunteer Network search engine at the White House today. The president also unveiled three public service announcements that will drive potential volunteers to the online resource. The search engine was built and managed for USA Freedom Corps by Network for Good, the e-philanthropy Internet portal launched in late 2001. Partners who are contributing nonprofit volunteer information include VolunteerMatch, Points of Light, America's Promise, ServeNet, National Mentoring Partnership and United Way. Government program partners include AmeriCorps, SeniorCorps, Peace Corps, Citizen Corps and Volunteer.gov.
A citizen using the http://www.usafreedomcorp.gov site will be able to provide their zip code and find service opportunities in their community based on whatever their interest may be. Users can also choose to see opportunities that are one-time, ongoing or full-time. And prospective volunteers can also use the system to find the volunteer support agencies in their communities.The AOL Time Warner Foundation, UPS, Microsoft and Cisco each committed financial support to create the Web site, the search engine and the underlying partnerships. AOL Time Warner also assisted in managing the product development and the partnership outreach, in addition to distributing the PSAs and the online resources on several media properties. Microsoft contributed technology expertise and software that allowed the entire system to be built on the .NET platform. The UPS Foundation is providing support for Web site news and information updates on the President's call to service and new volunteer opportunities.
Kathy Bushkin, President of the AOL Time Warner Foundation, said, "We're thrilled to be part of such an important step forward in helping Americans serve their communities and in bringing the government and non-profit sectors together in an unprecedented collaboration. The Freedom Corps Volunteer Network will help millions of Americans find opportunities to volunteer, literally, with a few clicks of a button."
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