Points of Light Foundation

1400 I Street, NW, Suite 800 Washington, DC 20005 Phone: 202-729-8000 Fax: 202-729-8100 URL: http://www.pointsoflight.org E-mail: rennierg@PointsofLight.org

New from the Points of Light Foundation: Information about the Family Matters Program, an innovative national program that seeks to strengthen families and communities through family volunteering. Family Matters funders include the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Lutheran Brotherhood, Target Stores, the Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation, Chase Manhattan Bank, The Johnson Foundation and the General Mills Foundation. One of the first winners of the Daily Points of Light Award was the Fathers Active in Children's Education -- FACE of Montgomery, Alabama

Mission Statement

To engage people more effectively in volunteer community service to help solve serious social problem.

Founded in May 1990, The Points of Light Foundation is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization devoted to promoting volunteerism. The Foundation is based in Washington, DC, but works in communities across the United States through a network of over 500 Volunteer Centers and partnerships with corporations, nonprofits, and individuals. Our Board of Directors includes prominent and politically diverse leaders from the business, education, and nonprofit communities.

The Foundation believes that bringing people together is a powerful way to combat the disconnection and alienation that lies at the core of our nation's serious social problems. As a result, the Foundation launched an initiative called "Connect America" -- a national movement to remind all Americans of what we can accomplish when we work together. At the heart of this initiative is the idea that bringing people together through volunterr service is a powerful way of combating disconnection and alleviating social problems. A growing list of national membership-based organizations, corporations, cities and states are signing on tot he Connect America movement by creating activities which unite people through volunteer service.

To achieve our mission of engaging more people more effectively, the Foundation:

• builds local infrastructure in communities that will serve as a conduit to connect people and organizations around common issues;
• develops the capacity of individuals, organizations and institutions to provide meaningful service and leadership for volunteers;
• raises public awareness of how community service helps to build healthier communities.