World Vision Canada Celebrates National Volunteer Week

Relief, development and advocacy organization thanks over 1,500 volunteers

MISSISSAUGA, ON, April 22, 2013 /CNW/ - As the nation marks National Volunteer Week, World Vision Canada recognizes more than 1,500 volunteers for the endless passion, action and impact they bring to the organization.

Volunteers play an integral role in helping World Vision Canada get more than 500,000 children in 240 communities in 49 countries globally, access to necessities such as clean drinking water, education and safe medical care.

Quick facts about our volunteers:

• Approximately $430,000 was raised by our volunteers last year
• More than $300,000 was saved thanks to volunteers working at both special events and at national headquarters
• 7,625 children were enrolled in the child sponsorship program by volunteers last year
• 1,500 volunteers stepped up to fill over 2,300 volunteer spots in 2012

"We are immensely grateful for the endless support that we receive from our volunteers across the country," says Lisa Bjorkman, manager of supporter experience at World Vision Canada. "We know that volunteers are a huge part of how we work together to serve children and communities around the world, and we are so thankful for their ongoing commitment and sacrifice."

Bjorkman credits volunteers like Bethany Boom of Mississauga, Ont. for much of the organization's success. Boom, who first got involved with World Vision's child sponsorship program at the age of 18, felt so compelled to see the other side of sponsorship that she travelled to Peru, and later to Rwanda, with World Vision as a volunteer.

"To this day, I volunteer because I was able to see for myself how World Vision impacts the lives of the children and families they work with," says Boom, who now continues to partner with World Vision by blogging about her experience and volunteering at special events.

To celebrate its volunteers, World Vision will be hosting a series of appreciation events cross-country over the months of April and May.

Interviews available:
Lisa Bjorkman, Manager in Supporter Experience, World Vision Canada
Bethany Boom, World Vision Volunteer based in Mississauga, Ont.
World Vision Canada volunteers, across the country

World Vision is a leading Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. Inspired by our Christian values, we are dedicated to working with the world's most vulnerable people. We serve all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.

Image with caption: "Sponsor child Sokna (pictured far right) and her two younger sisters say "thank you" for the well World Vision built in their community in Banan, Cambodia. (CNW Group/World Vision Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130422_C7265_PHOTO_EN_25809.jpg

SOURCE: World Vision Canada

Kim Rupnarain; 416-846-3953; [email protected]
Julia Rim Shepard; 416-722-8770; [email protected]