Volunteer Florida

What is Make A Difference Day?

Make A Difference Day is among the most encompassing national days of helping others — a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors. Everyone can participate. Created by USA WEEKEND Magazine, Make A Difference Day is an annual event that takes place on the fourth Saturday of every October. The next event is Saturday, October 24, 2009.

Millions have participated. In 2008, 3 million people cared enough about their communities to volunteer on that day, accomplishing thousands of projects in hundreds of towns.

Your project can be as large or as small as you wish! Look around your community and see what needs to be done. Or let the Make A Difference Day Idea Generator help you find a project idea to help your community.

After participating Oct. 24, please send in an entry form so you will be counted among the millions of volunteers and be considered for an award.

Who takes part in Make A Difference Day?

Anyone. Young and old, individuals and groups, anyone can carry out a volunteer project that helps others. It might be as ambitious as collecting truckloads of clothing for the homeless, or as personal as spending an afternoon helping an elderly neighbor or relative. USA WEEKEND features volunteers and their projects in articles and photos.

How do awards help charitable efforts?

Each year in April, hundreds of good deeds done on Make A Difference Day are selected for honors, headlines and charitable donations.

$10,000 to 10 projects

Newman’s Own provides $10,000 donations to the charities of each of 10 national honorees. These 10 honorees will be spotlighted in an April 2010 issue of USA TODAY Weekend, coinciding with National Volunteer week, and on the Make A Difference Day Web site.

Let Volunteer Florida know about your plans for Make A Difference Day! Contact info@volunteerflorida.org with details of your plans!

For more information, please visit http://www.usaweekend.com/diffday/