Archives for November 26, 2014

With its mission to inspire, equip, and mobilize a nationwide network of kids and teen volunteers this holiday season, generationOn kicked off its two signature campaigns Monday, November 10, 2014 to provide youth, families and schools with easy and meaningful ways to give back to their communities.

The campaigns – The Joy Maker Challenge and Family Volunteer Day – offer welcome respites from the end-of-year crush of social, work and school obligations, while enabling participants to contribute to and connect with the true spirit of the holiday season.

“One of the big ironies of the holiday season is that although it is often thought of as ‘family time,’ in reality it is the busiest time of the year, and meaningful connections often get lost in the shuffle,” said Daniel Horgan, generationOn Executive Director. “Volunteering during the holidays is the perfect way to spend time together while participating in activities that enhance and benefit our communities. generationOn makes it easier than ever this year to get youth, families and schools motivated and engaged.”

Since launching in 2010, generationOn – the youth and family division of Points of Light, the largest organization in the world dedicated to volunteer service – has been committed to making volunteering as easy and accessible as possible. By partnering with teachers, parents, schools, community organizations and businesses, generationOn gives kids and teens the inspiration, opportunities, tools and resources to positively impact their neighborhoods and become part of the solution.

“Your child can learn from a young age how to appreciate the things they have and the importance of helping those who are less fortunate,” said parenting expert and generationOn partner Dr. Michele Borba. “Starting a tradition of coming together as a family and helping people in need in your community is very important, as children learn values and behaviors by watching their parents’ actions.”

With its holiday volunteer campaigns that launched Monday, November 10, 2014 generationOn provides immediate opportunities to get involved.

The Joy Maker Challenge Engages Tens of Thousands of Youth in Service

For the fifth year in a row, generationOn is proud to partner with Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) for The Joy Maker Challenge, a campaign that connects students in grades K-12 to meaningful, hands-on service projects during the holiday season. For each action a child or teen takes to help others as part of The Joy Maker Challenge, Hasbro will donate a toy or game to Toys for Tots, up to one million dollars’ worth.

 From November 10 through December 10, 2014, students and teachers can sign up for The Joy Maker Challenge through www.generationon.org/joymaker. They can get project ideas, download a service project planning tool kit and submit their service impact stories via the website for the chance to win prizes. Twenty schools will receive a $250 grant to support continued service in their community. One grand prize-winning school will receive a $1,000 grant to support continued service, a special holiday party package, and $10,000 worth of toys and games that can be used to bring joy to kids in need in their own community.

“At Hasbro, we believe all children, regardless of their age, have the ability to change the world,” said Karen Davis, SVP of Global Philanthropy & Social Impact at Hasbro, Inc.  “For five years now, The Joy Maker Challenge and generationOn have engaged hundreds of thousands of youth worldwide to spread joy during the holiday season and the entire Hasbro family is once again proud to help extend this amazing work by making a donation to Toys for Tots.”

Call for Families to Come Together for Service

During this season of giving, Family Volunteer Day celebrates 24 years of tapping into the power of families to positively impact their neighborhoods, communities and the world. Disney Friends for Change, a global initiative that inspires kids and families to take action, and generationOn once again join to invite families of all kinds to come together on November 22, 2014 for a day of service. Activities can range from local clean-up projects to providing Thanksgiving meals for others in need to making cards for children in the hospital.

Families are encouraged to share their story at www.generationon.org/fvd for a chance to win one of twenty “family night out” prize packages, and ten families with amazing service impact stories will be selected for inclusion in a fall issue of FamilyFun Magazine.

“Coming together and volunteering as a family shows kids first-hand how even one act of caring can make a real difference in someone else’s life,” said Mike Strautmanis, vice president of Strategic Programs, Corporate Citizenship at Disney. “Disney is proud to continue our sponsorship of Family Volunteer Day to inspire kids and families to develop a lifelong love of service and share in our commitment to creating a brighter tomorrow.”

generationOn

generationOn is the youth and family service division of Points of Light, igniting the power of kids, teens and families to make their mark on the world. generationOn inspires, equips and mobilizes hundreds of thousands of kids and teens annually to take action through service, service learning and youth leadership initiatives. It also provides tools and resources to kids, teens, families, youth practitioners and educators to help kids change the world and themselves through service. For more information, visit www.generationon.org.

Points of Light
Points of Light – the largest organization in the world dedicated to volunteer service – mobilizes millions of people to take action that is changing the world. Through affiliates in 250 cities and partnerships with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages more than 4 million volunteers in 30 million hours of service each year. We bring the power of people to bear where it matters most. For more information, go to pointsoflight.org.

About Hasbro

Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) is a branded play company dedicated to fulfilling the fundamental need for play for children and families through the creative expression of the Company’s world class brand portfolio, including TRANSFORMERS, MONOPOLY, PLAY-DOH, MY LITTLE PONY, MAGIC: THE GATHERING, NERF and LITTLEST PET SHOP. From toys and games, to television programming, motion pictures, digital gaming and a comprehensive licensing program, Hasbro strives to delight its global customers with innovative play and entertainment experiences, in a variety of forms and formats, anytime and anywhere.  The Company’s Hasbro Studios is responsible for entertainment brand-driven storytelling around Hasbro brands across television, film, commercial productions and short-form.  Through the company’s deep commitment to corporate social responsibility, including philanthropy, Hasbro is helping to build a safe and sustainable world for future generations and to positively impact the lives of millions of children and families every year. It has been recognized for its efforts by being named to the Civic 50 as one of the “Most Community-Minded Companies” and is ranked as one of Corporate Responsibility Magazine’s “100 Best Corporate Citizens.” Learn more at www.hasbro.com.

About The Walt Disney Company

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international entertainment and media enterprise with five 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. In 2013, the Company donated nearly $370 million in cash, in-kind support and products, and Disney VoluntEARS gave over 667,000 hours of service. For more information visit the waltdisneycompany.com/citizenship or @CitizenDisney.

Credit: generationOn, Walt Disney Company, Hasbro and Points of Light.