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Zurich North America Employees, Finding '100 Ways' to Make a Difference

How one company and its dedicated employees made a difference in the fight against hunger.

Michael DeLong, Emerging Arts Professionals/SFBA

Michael's volunteer work in the arts community lets him follow his passion while also developing his professional communications skills.

UnitedHealth Group Employees, A Proud Milestone

Over the past six years, employees at UnitedHealth Group have volunteered over 1 million hours, setting a dedicated example for the rest of us.

Sandra Baker-Hinton, Fort Clinch State Park

The story of Sandra, artist and nature-lover, and how she became the "Turtle Lady," driving conservation awareness for an entire community.

Meredith Snyder, Paws and Prayers

To save animals and fight overpopulation and euthanization in animal shelters, Meredith Snyder serves as a foster parent for unwanted cats and dogs.

David Depallo, Salvation Army

David Depallo is an ex-drug addict who turned his life around and now dedicates himself to helping at-risk youth.

Vivian Littlefield, American Red Cross

From the challenges of 9/11 to threats of a shutdown, Vivian has dedicated her time to leading and strengthening Red Cross Nursing.

Joy Dingley, Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center

Joy spends her free time sharing her life-long love of nature and teaching children to respect the wildlife around them.

Diny Huang, East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation

With her work helping low-income families obtain their tax refunds, Diny Huang is certain she’s benefited just as much as the community she’s helped.

The Merry Band of Schemers, Love Drop

The Merry Band of Schemers volunteers their time, connections and money to change one family's life each month.

Pat Hairston, Carolina Canines for Service

When Pat Hairston's dog provided comfort to her friend with cancer, she found a new way to make a difference to people struggling with illness.

Regina Jones, Volunteer

Inspired by an employee volunteering program at The Gap, Regina has turned service into a guiding aspect of her life.

The Ross Family of Minnesota, Global Volunteers

The Ross Family loves spending their family vacations building houses in Costa Rica.

David de Souza, International Professors Project

SEO expert David de Souza is used to getting small websites noticed by big search engines. Now he's putting his skills to work for the International Professors Project to spur third-world education.

Anthony Palmeri, Tribute WTC Visitor Center

Anthony Palmeri lived a life of service even before 9/11. Now, after spending nine months volunteering at Ground Zero, he uses his story as part of the healing process.

Gayatri Mahesh, In2Books

While many people have multiple interests and varied talents, most of them have nothing on Gayatri Mahesh.

Jessica Brenner, Sunrise Assisted Living

Sure, extra-curricular activities look fabulous on college applications. But high school senior Jessica Brenner volunteers at Sunrise Assisted Living for one simple reason: she loves doing it!

Taryn Adams, International Rescue Committee

A fast food restaurant is an unlikely spot for cultural exchange, yet for Taryn Adams and her Bhutanese visitors, it was a moment of real connection.  

Christine French, The George Washington University

You can't really major in volunteering, but if you could your schedule might look a lot like Christine French's.

Jerry Mattimore, Easter Seals

Easter Seals board chair Jerry Mattimore has been a volunteer leader with the organization for more than 30 years. "My involvement was very personal from the start," he says.

Brett Dennen, Love Speaks, and CLIF BAR GreenNotes

Following his passion for social change, musician and CLIF® BAR GreenNotes artist Brett Dennen created his Love Speaks initiative to use his nightly platform to bridge music, people and work.

Pam Farr, American Red Cross

When it comes to planning, Pam Farr is a hero. As national chair of volunteers for the American Red Cross, she is both a key executive leader and a spokesperson for emergency planning.

Weyman Johnson, National MS Society

Growing up in a family with MS, Weyman Johnson feels lucky to be born at the "right time" to get treatment. Today he's on the national board of the National MS Society, helping lead the fight against the disease.

Nancy Pfeffer, Operation Jump Start

As an environmental activist and policy advisor, Nancy Pfeffer is used to fighting for the underdog. As a volunteer, she's putting her skills to use helping underprivileged teens go above and beyond their expectations.

Gene Ehlers, Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center

Accountant Gene Ehlers knows that a day on the slopes means more than just exercise for individuals with disabilities -- it means the chance to break through personal boundaries.

Michael Nicklin, National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship

Inspired by a movie trailer to make volunteering a priority in his life, a search at VolunteerMatch led business consultant Michael Nicklin to a life-changing opportunity.

Toni & JD Smith, IMPACT Ministries

A mission to help suffering led Toni and JD Smith to start IMPACT Ministries. Today, from the Gulf Coast to Myanmar, IMPACT volunteers are reaching out to help when it is most needed.

Lynnette Letsky Piombo, United Way of Greater Waterbury

Thanks to Lynnette Letsky Piombo, brains, beauty, and a commitment to family won’t be the only things on stage during this year's Mrs. United States contest – so will the ideal of giving back.

Joe Alcodray, RandomKindActs.com

Joe Alcodray is paying it forward with his new Web site RandomKindActs.com, and now he wants others to share their personal encounters with random acts of kindness.

Doug Long, Trips for Kids Marin

Life-long bicycle fanatic Doug Long was smart about volunteering and took his passion for the sport to his volunteer work with kids.

Cora Judd, Warm Soles

Undaunted by today's headlines, Cora Judd chose to get active.

Karen Tourney, American Indian Center in Chicago

Karen Tourney is a proud American Indian who knows that promoting and protecting your native culture and history can be also be rewarding way to volunteer your time.

Darlene Grieger, Cross-Cultural Solutions

Want to leave the country, learn something new, and immerse yourself into a new culture? Meet Darlene Grieger and learn about what "voluntourism" and Cross-Cultural Solutions is all about.

Stephanie Allen, Starlight, Starbright Children's Foundation

To one person, you can mean the world, which is why Stephanie Allen believes volunteering with Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation could make all the difference to the life of a child.

Melanie Washington, Mentoring a Touch From Above

Melanie Washington works hard to make sure people don't forget our incarcerated youth because they are still children and they need our help.

Jilladair Carlson, Multiple Sclerosis Association of America

Talented producer Jilladair Carlson doesn't let anything get in the way of her creativity, and she's using her music to let the world know that, sometimes, "Everybody Falls".

Bob Gregory, Myelin Repair Foundation

Chased from Corporate America by his MS, Bob Gregory now uses his drive and ambition to help  the Myelin Repair Foundation.

Lesley Stewart, American Red Cross in Greater New York

Busy New Yorker Lesley Stewart used VolunteerMatch to find the perfect volunteer opportunity.

Molly Morris, American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles

Molly Morris is one of a score of volunteers who have found opportunities to give back through the VolunteerMatch's recruitment partnership with the American Red Cross.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Employees, Creating a Company-Wide Volunteer Culture

The first annual global Volunteer Week at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt was a resounding success – in more ways than one.

Kevin Johnson, Services Now for Adult Persons

Kevin found a way to fit volunteering into his busy schedule - by helping homebound seniors, one bingo call at a time.

Dr. John Ness, Love Without Boundaries

The winner of our #WhyIVolunteer Photo Contest, Dr. John Ness spends his vacation time offering free surgery to impoverished and orphaned children.

Rachel Keith, Odyssey Hospice

An active member of the National Guard, a criminal investigator, a mother and a pageant queen, Rachel Keith is a busy woman - and a lifelong volunteer.

Lisa Nordin, VITAS

When she began volunteering at a hospice providing end-of-life care, Lisa Nordin found both a way to comfort patients and a sense of purpose for herself.

Debbie Francis, National MS Society

When lifelong volunteer and youth advocate Debbie Francis was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2007, she was able to continue volunteering with the help of technology.

Julie Krenzer, Johns Hopkins Healthcare

Julie Krenzer uses her creativity to help her community through her employer's volunteer program.

Michael Halpern, YES!Atlanta

Michael was inspired by one late-night experience to dedicate his time to helping inner-city youth succeed.

Patricia Brown, American Cancer Society

After getting help and support from the same nonprofit she volunteers for, Patricia decided to spend the rest of her life helping others.

Tom Feulner, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

When Tom’s friend died of leukemia, he gave his time and talent and found a special way to honor her memory.

Alisha Beth Griswold, Medical Reserve Corps

Alisha Beth Griswold was inspired by her mother to dedicate her time to help others, and now she prepares her community for disasters.

Willie and Brenda Buchanan, 4Results Mentoring Program

Willie and Brenda Buchanan started mentoring to help kids in need and stumbled into a life-long friendship.

The Family: Kordenbrocks, Welcome House of Northern KY

The Kordenbrock-Riders have learned that the family that volunteers together, stays together, learns together, and grows together.

Donald Sanders, Volunteer

As a Vietnam veteran, Donald wanted to give back and was determined to overcome a 12 year old felony charge and find a place that would accept his help.

The Benedicts of Pennsylvania, Infinite Family

The Benedict family uses the power of the Internet to connect with an orphaned teen half a world away in South Africa.

Sara Hooker, Volunteer

Growing up in Swaziland, where one in four adults has HIV, Sara Hooker was aware from a young age how some communities face extraordinary challenges.

Chris Hartridge, Global Vision International

You can't choose your family, your natural hair color, or your personality. According to Chris Hartridge, you can't choose your volunteer work either.  

Genna Duplisea, Community Housing Network

While for many college students, a semester abroad is a nonstop vacation in a distant land, for Genna Duplisea it was a chance to get involved.

Lady and Mary Cope, Paws for Smiles

Mary Cope, a dedicated volunteer at several hospitals and nursing homes throughout South Florida, admits it's her partner who often steals the show.

Mimi Schaefer, The Year of the Volunteer

In late 2008, Mimi Schaefer made an ambitious New Years Resolution: she vowed to volunteer for a different nonprofit organization each month in 2009.

Pam Tardy, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities

Pam Tardy was inspired by the work her mother and sister were doing as volunteers. Wanting to become a positive influence too, she chose to be a Big Sister.

Joan Gaudet, Maine Troop Greeters

After retiring, and with her children grown and out of the house, Joan Gaudet was looking for somebody new to take care of.

Connie Lindsey, Girl Scouts of the USA

For Girl Scouts national president and chief volunteer Connie Lindsey, no challenge is too big and no one is too powerless to make an impact.

Gloria Osoba, Our 4-Millionth Volunteer Referral

Becoming an overnight celebrity wasn't exactly what Gloria Osoba had in mind when she visited VolunteerMatch.org on March 13. With just one click, she became the 4-millionth person to refer themselves to an opportunity.

Emily Friedman, Stepping Stones Children's Museum

Inspiring others to reach for their potential is no easy task, but middle-schooler Emily Friedman – no stranger to excellence herself – has made it her mission to teach other kids that they can exceed their own expectations.

Nancy Peyton, Cheerful Givers

Nancy Peyton found the perfect virtual opportunity with Cheerful Givers. Now she's providing birthday gifts to thousands of kids in need -- at her own pace and from the comfort of home!

Michelle Sullivan, In2Books

As an In2Books mentor, volunteer Michelle Sullivan discovered that being a pen pal can be more than just fun and games. Today she’s helping a student in a school in an under-resourced neighborhood.

Laurie Scott, EF Foundation for Foreign Study

There are good stories to be found in nearly every volunteer experience, but Laurie Scott is positive that hosting a foreign exchange student produces some of the greatest.

Kate So, Voices for Children

As an early educator and former lawyer, Kate So certainly has the background to be a Voices for Children volunteer. But what makes her perfect for it is her empathy, openness and even wonder.

Amanda McGlothlin, Heart House Austin

Be careful! Volunteering may be good for the heart, according to Amanda McGlothlin and Heart House of Austin.

Laura Schmitz, Corazon de Vida Foundation

For Laura Schmitz, volunteering provides a language of its own allowing her to build friendships with the children of Baja California.

Jeannie Whyte, Common Ground Relief

Jeannie Whyte knows firsthand about the resilience of people and their desire to improve their lives even in the face of a disaster like Hurricane Katrina.

Gary Helton, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County

Longtime volunteer Gary Helton (pictured, at right) has been making a difference abroad as a retired Peace Corps volunteer and in his own community as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Peter Yedidia, Taproot Foundation

Peter Yedidia and Taproot Foundation are working to get nonprofits in touch with top notch marketing, technical and executive-level expertise one volunteer at a time.

Flora Mortell, National MS Society of Greater Illinois

Flora Mortell believes knowledge about MS is power and has partnered with the National MS Society of Greater Illinois to share that knowledge with the world.

Patsy Wilcher, Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men and Women

Patsy Wilcher volunteers because even if "you may never know the difference you've made, the impact is there."

Katie Lee, Hope4KidZ, Inc.

Volunteer Coordinator Katie Lee and Hope4KidZ, Inc. want people to know that foster kids are one of the most vulnerable and forgotten groups in our society.

Joy Perryman, Media Volunteer

Joy Perryman thinks becoming part of the media is a great way to volunteer virtually.

Chris O'Brien, Arlington County Chapter of the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross welcomes all kinds of skills, as graphic designer Chris O'Brien is discovering.

Nicole Hancock, City of Dreams

City of Dreams' Nicole Hancock knows just how powerful mentoring is for a young person and what a positive influence a great volunteer can be.