VolunteerSquare, Inc

FREE Site Aimed at Boosting Volunteer Activity Across All Age Groups and in All Areas of Need

Fairfield County-based nonprofit VolunteerSquare.com proudly announced its official launch today. The free site connects volunteers with nonprofit agencies across Fairfield County with its powerful database and its sophisticated social networking capabilities.

“This is much more than a listing service. With this site we have really built a virtual town square – an interactive online community where agencies in need can make meaningful connections with people looking to make an impact,” said Executive Director and Fairfield resident Rachel Reese. “Everyone has a cause that is close to their heart and we are thrilled to help people reengage in their communities by providing a venue for all things volunteer.”

VolunteerSquare.com was first established in early 2011 and spent the past several months retooling and reworking its functionality before unveiling it publicly today. Just some of the highlights of the new site include:

• Personalized e-alerts notifying users of volunteer opportunities that match their specific skills & interests;
• Interactive calendar for posting and sharing community events;
• Sophisticated, but user-friendly, social networking platform allowing volunteers and agencies to communicate directly and share photos, videos and feedback;
• Incubator function where individuals can brainstorm their own volunteer ideas;
• Automated volunteer opportunity suggestion capabilities

“From the outset, we’ve been fostering close ties with agencies across the region, learning what they really need from their volunteers and how we can help them

attract some fresh faces. We think this site is the answer,” said Founder and Darien resident Ned Brokaw. “We are proud to have some longstanding Fairfield County agencies like Stamford-based Domus, Person-to-Person in Darien and Family Centers in Greenwich on board as well as some relatively younger groups like Norwalk-based Community Plates and Neighbors Link Stamford. We’re looking forward to partnering with even more agencies in the next few months and think this site has the potential to make a major impact.”

Some other agencies already on board with VolunteerSquare.com include:

• Christian Community Action (NORWALK)
• Center for Sexual Assault Crisis Counseling and Education (STAMFORD)
• Fairfield Museum & History Center (FAIRFIELD)
• St. Luke’s Lifeworks (STAMFORD)
• Kids Helping Kids (NEW CANAAN)
• Carver Foundation of Norwalk (NORWALK)
• Horizons Student Enrichment Program at New Canaan Country School (NEW CANAAN)
• Enchanted Castle/Ahlbin Center for Rehabilitative Medicine (FAIRFIELD/BRIDGEPORT )
• Stamford Museum & Nature Center (STAMFORD)
• Lupus Foundation of America, CT Chapter

“The site is not only an incredibly useful tool for volunteers, providing real-time, relevant information on what is happening in their community, but it’s also a real boon to the agencies,” said Reese. “This site enables agencies to better communicate with one another and reach an entirely new audience of people who may not have known anything about their work. As much as the site offers opportunities, we also feel that it’s a real educational tool.”

In addition, with Connecticut’s unemployment rate at around 9% (Connecticut Department of Labor), VolunteerSquare.com will also be particularly useful to those on the job hunt.