Millions Of Americans To Volunteer On Make A Difference Day October 26

MCLEAN, Va., Oct. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Millions of Americans will unite this Saturday, October 26, for Make A Difference Day, the nation's largest day of doing good.  Sponsored by Gannett's USA WEEKEND Magazine in partnership with Points of Light, the nation's largest mobilizer of volunteers, the annual Make A Difference Day inspires millions of Americans to volunteer in service to their neighbors and communities.

Thousands of projects are planned involving corporations, communities, nonprofit organizations, states and individual Americans. Gannett is leading more than 100 volunteer projects across the country. Those projects are funded by $500,000 in grants from The Gannett Foundation. Points of Light's HandsOn affiliates are also leading projects across the country.

"The actions that Americans take on Make A Difference Day show that we can all come together for a common purpose – doing good. Gannett's purpose is to serve the greater good in the more than 100 local communities we serve and no one day demonstrates it better than Make A Difference Day. Thousands of Gannett employees will join millions of volunteers across the nation on Saturday to do something good for others.  It is incredibly gratifying to see the positive impact that Make A Difference Day has for so many people and causes each year," said Gracia Martore, president and chief executive officer, Gannett Co., Inc.

"Make A Difference Day has become an enduring tradition that brings people together, across differences, to help solve community problems," said Tracy Hoover, president of Points of Light. "With projects throughout the country, it's a great opportunity to start volunteering or, if you already volunteer, it's a great time to invite a friend to join you."

The Make A Difference DAYtaBANK at makeadifferenceday.com gathers plans from project leaders across the country detailing how they will help others on October 26. The interactive database also allows visitors to search for events in their community. Toolkits, a marketing guide and other resources are available to help project planners.

Helping others on Make A Difference Day — and submitting the project for award consideration — makes the effort eligible to receive a $10,000 award from Newman's Own, the food company founded by the late actor and philanthropist Paul Newman. A supporter of Make A Difference Day since 1994, Newman's Own provides $10,000 awards to each of the charities of 13 volunteer efforts recognized as Make A Difference Day honorees.

"Nearly 20 years into this and $1.9 million later, Newman's Own continues to derive inspiration from each initiative and every individual who has the fire in them to make a difference.  We are proud to be associated with helping bring about change on so many levels," said Tom Indoe, president and chief operating officer of Newman's Own, Inc.

USA WEEKEND Magazine will feature the award honorees in an April 2014 issue. Awards will be presented at an event in Washington, D.C., that same week. A $10,000 All-Star Award funded by the Gannett Foundation will go to a former national honoree who shows continued excellence in volunteerism.

Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) is an international media and marketing solutions company that informs and engages more than 100 million people every month through its powerful network of broadcast, digital, mobile and publishing properties. Our portfolio of trusted brands offers marketers unmatched local-to-national reach and customizable, innovative marketing solutions across any platform. Gannett is committed to connecting people – and the companies who want to reach them – with their interests and communities. For more information, visit gannett.com.

USA WEEKEND Magazine is a national weekly magazine, distributed through nearly 800 newspapers in the United States. It created Make A Difference Day in 1992. Awarded for its journalism and design, USA WEEKEND focuses on social issues, entertainment, health, food and travel. USA WEEKEND is a Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) publication. For more information, visit usaweekend.com.

Points of Light, the world's largest organization 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 four million volunteers in 30 million hours of service each year. It brings the power of people to bear where it's needed most. For more information, go to pointsoflight.org.

Newman's Own, Inc., founded by Paul Newman in 1982, offers more than 100 varieties of great tasting, all-natural food and beverage products, including salad dressings, pasta sauces, salsa, frozen pizza, frozen skillet meals, microwave popcorn and refrigerated lemonades. Newman's Own Foundation continues Paul Newman's commitment to donate all profits to charity. More than $370 million has been given to thousands of charities since 1982. Learn more at newmansown.com. Learn more about our mission at newmansownfoundation.org

SOURCE USA WEEKEND Magazine