Special Days/Weeks Related to Volunteerism - Celebrated in North America

(Also see Worldwide listing)

January

National Mentoring Month
Thank Your Mentor Day
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/chc/wmy2008/index.html

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
http://www.mlkday.org/
With "Make it a day ON... Not a day off!" as its slogan, this commemoration is designed to keep Dr. King's legacy of service to others alive in communities across the country.  The day of service is scheduled on his nationally-recognized birthday holiday.

February

Corporate Philanthropy Day
http://www.corporatephilanthropy.org/events/international-corporate-philanthropy-day.html
Building awareness of corporate-community partnerships and inspiring businesses to engage further in philanthropy. (Global as of 2009)

Random Acts of Kindness Week
http://www.actsofkindness.org/people/days.asp
Random Acts of Kindness Week is dedicated to celebrating the little things we do for others. There is a Random Acts of Kindness Foundation at http://www.actsofkindness.org. Upcoming Random Acts of Kindness Week:

2010: February 15-21

March

Cesar Chavez Day of Service and Learning - March 31
http://chavezfoundation.org/
An official holiday in six states and dozens of cities and counties throughout the nation, this day honors the life, work, and values of activist Cesar E. Chavez.

April

National Volunteer Week in Canada (April)
http://volunteer.ca/nvw
Held to coincide with the American National Volunteer Week dates (see below), Volunteer Canada provides support and media materials to recognize Canadian volunteering.

Suggestion: Visit our Collective Wisdom area to share or read ideas of what to do during National Volunteer Week.

National Volunteer Week in the USA (April)
http://www.pointsoflight.org/programs/seasons/nvw/
National Volunteer Week, always held in the third week of April unless the spring religious holidays coincide, has been celebrated annually since the 1970s, though its visibility has been reduced by the new "Seasons of Service" calendar of events throughout the year. Now sponsored by the Points of Light Institute. Next date:

      

     2010: April 18 - 24

National Youth Service Day (now Global Youth Service Day)
http://www.gysd.net
Occurs each year immediately preceeding National Volunteer Week and celebrates the positive contributions that millions of young people are making in their communities. Major sponsors are Youth Service America and Parade magazine.  Next dates:

    

     2010: April 23-25

May

Join Hands Day - first Saturday in May
http://www.joinhandsday.org
A nationwide volunteer day (sponsored by America's Fraternal Benefit Societies) to bring young people together with adults to create new and better relationships by working as a team within their own neighborhoods.

Americorps Week
http://www.americorpsweek.gov/
AmeriCorps Week is a recruitment and recognition event designed to bring more Americans into service, salute AmeriCorps members and alums for their powerful impact, and thank the community partners who make AmeriCorps possible.

July

Mandela Day - July 18
http://www.mandeladay.com/
An annual celebration of Nelson Mandela’s life (started in 2009) and a global call to action for people to recognize their individual power to" make an imprint" and change the world around them -- by giving 67 minutes of volunteer service.

September

National Day of Service and Remembrance - September 11
http://www.911dayofservice.org/
September 11th has now been officially designated as the National Day of Service and Remembrance under the 2009 Serve America Act.   It grew out of a series of similar commemorations organized by My Good Deed http://www.mygooddeed.org/.

October

Be the Change Day - October 1
http://www.saalt.org/bethechange.php
An annual service day sponsored by South Asian American Leaders of Tomorrow (SAALT).  (Formerly called "National Ghandi Day of Service")

Make A Difference Day - 4th Saturday of October
http://www.usaweekend.com/diffday/index.html 
Each October, USA Weekend magazine, in partnership with the Points of Light Foundation, sponsors a day for people to volunteer and make a difference in the their communities. For more information, dial the Make A Difference Day Hotline, 1-800-416-3824 or visit the Web site. 

November

National Family Volunteer Day - the Saturday before Thanksgiving (USA)
http://disney.go.com/disneyhand/familyvolunteers/
Designed to showcase the benefits of families working together in service to the community and encourage those who haven't yet made the commitment to volunteer as a family. National Family Volunteer Day is co-sponsored by Hands On Network and The Walt Disney Company and kicks off National Family Week.

National Philanthropy Day
http://www.afpnet.org/national_philanthropy_day_and_afp_awards
Sponsored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, this day is celebrated around the US by AFP chapters in various ways, often with conferences or awards.  Financial giving is the primary focus, but volunteering is almost always included.

 

10/23/09

 

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