Press Releases CharityAmerica.com and Bentley college announce partnership for student volunteer campaign
-BOSTON, August 3, 2000-
CharityAmerica.com and Bentley College today announced a partnership that integrates technology and learning to help make it easier for students to register online for volunteer opportunities at local nonprofit organizations. CharityAmerica.com, a comprehensive resource for qualified nonprofits and their supporters, launched its extensive student volunteer campaign, CharityAmerica Students Care, with Bentley College.
"This partnership provides Bentley College with the opportunity to bring service-learning to the next level through advanced information technology," said Robert Koulish, Ph.D., Director of the Bentley Service-Learning Center (BSLC). "We have always been on the cutting edge of community issues. With the help of CharityAmerica.com, we are able to streamline service-learning planning and provide students with the resources to choose a service project and organization that best fits their interest."
Using CharityAmerica's online technology, Bentley Service-Learning Center freshmen students will log onto www.bentley.edu and link to www.charityamerica.com to select a service-learning project created specifically for them. Students will have direct access to nonprofit profiles, volunteer opportunities, and available service dates. They will search for the ideal volunteer opportunity based on their unique talents and interests. If an accounting student is interested in art, she might paint murals at a community center. A finance major might create a web site or database or rake leaves with a developmentally disabled adult. The choice belongs to the student.
"We are thrilled to embark on this partnership because of the far-reaching benefits for both college students and our online nonprofit community," said Timothy McCarthy, Founder and CEO of CharityAmerica.com. "We are helping to define a new standard in service-learning by providing students with a greater understanding of philanthropy and the needs of the community that surrounds them. We anticipate that this experience will engage students and they will continue to log on to CharityAmerica.com to volunteer, exchange information and give back through in-kind donations like computers or clothing."
Established in 1990, BSLC First Year Initiative requires students to fulfill a one-day service project designed to integrate classroom learning with hands-on service in the community. More than 900 students choose from a wide scope of projects, from tutoring children to building homes. The new online registration makes the process more efficient for both students and nonprofits. This intricate matching system pairs students' individual talents with a nonprofits needs.
This campaign has exponentially increased the number of nonprofits that participate in Bentley College's service-learning program. More than 50 nonprofit organizations have registered to date including the Greater Boston Food Bank, Greater Waltham Association for Retarded Citizens, Perkins School for the Blind, Pine Street Inn, Mass Coalition for Battered Women, New England SCORES and the Watertown Boys & Girls Club.
CharityAmerica has immediate plans to make its service-learning technology available to colleges and universities nationwide. In addition to the Students Care campaign, CharityAmerica.com offers an array of comprehensive giving tools for students over the Internet. For more information on the CharityAmerica Students Care Campaign call 1-877-KIND ACT or visit www.charityamerica.com.
About Charity America
CharityAmerica.com is the premier national online resource connecting qualified nonprofit organizations and their supporters. CharityAmerica.com's "Philanthropy Causeways" - Donations, Volunteer, Events, Tickets and Shopping - empower individuals to give back to the charities of their choice. CharityAmerica.com is headquartered in Natick, Massachusetts at 264 North Main Street. The company's telephone number is 508-903-4100. Additional information can be found at www.charityamerica.com.
About Bentley College
Bentley College is committed to providing the most advanced business education possible. Approximately 4,200 undergraduate, 1,500 graduate and 2,500 executive professional education students learn in an environment that integrates information technology with a broad business and arts and sciences curriculum, gaining knowledge, interpersonal skills and experience for careers in a global economy. Bentley College is located in Waltham, Massachusetts, 10 miles west of Boston. Visit www.bentley.edu for more information.
Charityamerica.com announces alliance with Paul Schervish, Director of the Social Welfare institute at Boston College
-BOSTON, June 20, 2000-
CharityAmerica.com, the online resource and solution site that offers comprehensive giving tools to nonprofits and their supporters, announced today an alliance with Paul Schervish, Director of the Social Welfare Institute at Boston College. CharityAmerica.com and Schervish will work together to create a unique addition to CharityAmerica's existing philanthropy causeway, a one-of-a-kind resource causeway.This new causeway will provide nonprofits and visitors with extensive information about the art and science of philanthropy and provide a new interactive medium for conducting research on philanthropy.
"I'm thrilled that Paul is joining our cause to revolutionize the way society gives", explains Timothy McCarthy, Founder and President of CharityAmerica.com. "Together we will not only provide a resource that will help teach the power of philanthropy, but also provide a tool to determine and define the motivating factors behind the act of giving", continued McCarthy.
Paul Schervish is a Professor of Sociology and Director of the Social Welfare Research Institute (SWRI) at Boston College. Schervish is best known for his recent report, "Millionaires and the Millenium : New Estimates of the Forthcoming Wealth Transfer and the Prospects for a Golden Age of Philanthropy", which he co-authored with John Havens, Senior Research Associate at SWRI.The study estimates the wealth transfer over the next half century to be between $41 trillion and $136 trillion.
He is also known for directing the "Study on Wealth and Philanthropy", an examination of the startegies of living and giving among 130 millionaires, and the study "The Contradictions of Christmas : Troubles and Traditions in Culture, Home and Heart." Along with Havens, he is currently directing "Dilemmas and Decisions Surrounding the Accumulation and Distribution of Financial Resources," funded by the T.B. Murphy Foundation Charitable Trust, and "The Emerging Material and Spiritual Determinants of Charitable Giving by Wealth Holders," funded by the Lilly Endowment, Inc. In addition, Schervish and Havens have recently completed the "Bankers Trust 1998 Survey on Wealth and Responsibility," a study of 109 private individuals each with a net worth in excess of $5 million, regarding their charitable giving and volunteering,attitudes about social issues, socially responsible investing, trust and estate planning and the transfer of values to heirs.
"The timimg couldn't be better for developing this new causeway.It's evident from the research I've conducted that the understanding of wealth is being redefined, and with that comes a shift on how much money is given away and the reasons behind the giving. People are coming into wealth at an earlier age, yet many don't have the experience or wisdom on how to make responsible donations. Similarly the conception of philanthropy is undergoing revision. As philanthropy becomes more widespread and charitable gifts become larger, it is important to provide a resource to to encourage responsible giving and to conduct research on the meanings and motivations of giving," said Paul Schervish.He continues to explain, "However, giving isn't just making monetary donations.It is about how people define and carry out financial care in their daily lives.As such, another goal we have is to help visitors determine what their personal definition of giving is and how to pursue it."
The new causeway offers three resource causeways.One focuses on exploring the art and science of philanthropy and the reasons why people give.Another provides information on current research studies on topics such as "wealth transfer," and demographic patterns of those who give.The third pathway is interactive, offering dynamic online "snapshot" surveys for visitor's participation.Survey results will illustrate how Americans define giving and offer insight into attitudes on volunteerism.The site will launch in the fall of 2000.
CharityAmerica.com strives to increase American philanthropy by uniting donors,volunteers,businesses and qualified charities across the nation using Web-driven technology.Guided by the commitment to meet the needs of all constituencies, Charity America efficiently matches donors with charities and facilitates financial, in-kind donations, and volunteering in a way that was never before possible. CharityAmerica.com maintains quality affiliation standards while offering premium philanthropy solutions.
CharityAmerica.com Creates Premier Donation Management System
-BOSTON, April 6, 2000-
CharityAmerica.com, the national online resource network for nonprofit organizations and their supporters, recently launched the Kind Act Manager, the most comprehensive donation management system on the Internet. Powered by innovative technology, the Kind Act Manager can accept, locate, exchange and track donations at the speed of the Internet.
CharityAmerica.com also announced that it is incorporating First Data Corp.'s online merchant account application and activation system. Known as VirtualApp, this technology enables CharityAmerica's member nonprofit organizations to apply for a merchant account and within minutes begin accepting credit card donations online via a secure Internet payments gateway.
The Kind Act Manager functions as an interactive donation forum, matching a donor's willingness to give with the needs of a nonprofit. From furniture to funds, almost anything can be offered, exchanged, and tracked efficiently and effectively through this online system. Visitors to www.CharityAmerica.com can register with the Kind Act Manager, offer in-kind donations, make credit card donations, and create and track their personal giving history through the site.
Through the Kind Act Manager's e-mail matching system, Visitors can review and respond to in-kind requests posted by CharityAmerica.com member nonprofits or create their own in-kind donation offerings, such as furniture, cars or computers.
Nonprofits can respond to donor offerings through a "reply" e-mail. Once a "kind act" connection has been made, the online in-kind agreement is then confirmed off-line. First Data's VirtualApp product provides CharityAmerica.com member nonprofits with the ability to easily accept credit card donations on the Internet as well as to process those transactions in real time. VirtualApp is the first paperless, completely click-through process helping merchants securely establish merchant accounts and receive online credit decisions within minutes from acquiring financial institutions in order to accept online payments on the Internet.
The Kind Act Manager's one-of-a-kind personal donation tracking system records the in-kind and credit card giving activity of every registered user. When a gift is made, a record of that gift is created, giving the Visitor the ability to track and manage their personal giving through the CharityAmerica.com site.
"The CharityAmerica.com network was built to respect the time, privacy and generosity of the donor and the needs of the nonprofit," said CharityAmerica founder and CEO Timothy McCarthy. "This powerful tool provides options to empower philanthropy," continued McCarthy.
CharityAmerica.com expects that thousands of online users and member nonprofits will benefit from the Kind Act Manager system in the coming weeks. For more information regarding the CharityAmerica.com network, please call 1-877-KIND ACT or visit the web site at www.charityamerica.com.
CharityAmerica.com Rolls Out Revolutionary 'Giving' System
-BOSTON, April 3, 2000-
Visitors Can Track Kind Acts and Be Better Prepared for Next Year's Tax Season
As April 15 looms in the near future, millions of people wish there was a better way to track their charitable contributions throughout the past year. Their needs have finally been met through the development of the most comprehensive donation management system on the Internet today. CharityAmerica.com, the national online resource for nonprofit organizations and their supporters, today announced the launch of the "Kind Act Manager."
The Kind Act Manager is an interactive on-line donation system that matches an individual's giving priorities with the specific needs of a nonprofit, while also keeping a log of the individual's contributions throughout the year. Visitors simply log on to the CharityAmerica.com site, register with the Kind Act Manager, and gain immediate access to this customized way of giving.
"The CharityAmerica.com network is bringing together industry-leading services, innovative technology, giving resources and people," said Founder, Timothy McCarthy. "This powerful combination will make it easier for people to do what comes naturally, reach out and give back, all while keeping track of their kind acts," continued McCarthy.
The Kind Act Manager offers a one-of-kind personal tracking system that records the in-kind and credit card giving activity of every registered user. When a gift is made, a record of that gift is created, offering visitors the ability to track and manage their giving through the CharityAmerica.com site.
From furniture to funds, almost anything can be offered, exchanged, and tracked efficiently and effectively through the Kind Act Manager program. A unique e-mail system matches each visitor's in-kind offering with related nonprofit requests. Viewers can review and respond to previous nonprofit requests through a searchable database. Nonprofits can also match visitor offerings with their requests and contact the visitor through the Kind Act Manager e-mail. Once a "kind act" connection has been made, the online in-kind agreement is confirmed both online and then off-line.
CharityAmerica.com visitors are guaranteed a secure, support-based online credit card donation service that transfers funds directly to member nonprofits at a very competitive rate. Visitors are provided with detailed confidential transactional information, without third party interference, unnecessary service fees or delays. Nonprofit members of CharityAmerica.com have access to this automated Internet approval activation system to accept online credit card donations within minutes. This payment gateway also offers member nonprofits easy integration for future e-commerce storefronts on the CharityAmerica.com site.
By next year's tax deadline, hundreds of thousands of online users and CharityAmerica member nonprofits will benefit from this unique Kind Act Manager system. It's the only online interactive "giving" system to locate, exchange and track donations in a click. For more information regarding the CharityAmerica.com network, please call 1-877-KIND ACT, or visit our website at www.CharityAmerica.com.
CharityAmerica.com sponsors Alumni Beanpot Hockey Tournament to benefit The Campus School at Boston College -BOSTON, Februrary, 2000-
(BOSTON, MA) Alumni hockey players from Boston College, Boston University, Harvard University and Northeastern University will compete in the 3rd Annual Alumni Beanpot Tournament to benefit the students at The Campus School at Boston College. The event, sponsored by CharityAmerica.com, takes place on Sunday afternoon, February 27, 2000 at 2:30 p.m., in Conte Forum at Boston College.
Three years ago at Boston College, a few Campus School volunteers began a new tradition of adding the flavor of the Beanpot to a fundraising tournament, with alumni hockey players from the four participating Boston schools. The money raised benefits the Boston College Campus School, one of the nation's best providers of education to students with multiple disabilities.
Each year the event has doubled in size and in funds raised. This year, CharityAmerica.com has signed on as the lead sponsor of the event. "This event is what our site is all about, linking kind acts with people in need," said CharityAmerica.com founder Timothy McCarthy. CharityAmerica.com, a network that unites donors, volunteers and businesses with qualified charities, is a first-time sponsor of the event and will continue its sponsorship commitment for the next five years.
So far, the funds from this event have helped The Campus School pioneer The Eagle's Eye program, allowing students to operate a computer with the movement of their eyes, install a state-of-the-art track in their multi-purpose room and develop their music therapy program.
This year CharityAmerica.com will promote the event on their Web site (www.charityamerica.com) and give away tickets to any nonprofit interested in attending the event. Boston College will also reach out to the community, providing tickets through their neighborhood outreach program.
Tickets to the 3rd Annual Alumni Beanpot Tournament are $7.00 for the general public and $5.00 for students, and children under the age of 12 years old. Tickets can be purchased by contacting The Boston College Campus School at (617) 552-1066 or at the door the day of the event.
CharityAmerica.com's Innovation Leads E-Philanthropy Movement -BOSTON, February 10, 2000-
Click on CharityAmerica.com and find a full service "kind act" network, for nonprofits and their supporters, that combines interactive "idea" technology and unmatched resources with standards for nonprofit membership. This online network, which unites donors, volunteers and businesses with qualified charities from across the nation, is unlocking the power of philanthropy and leading the movement to make it easier for Americans to give, generously.
CharityAmerica.com provides multifaceted solutions that create opportunities and offer alternatives to nonprofits, individuals and businesses, free of charge. Nonprofit organizations can take advantage of resources, gain exposure and raise funds, without spending mission critical dollars. "CharityAmerica.com is powered by ideas and actions, " said CEO Timothy McCarthy. "Our network is about giving-reaching beyond the limits of what we think we can do, everyday. It's about building a strong union of respected alliances that set the standard for giving both on and off-line," continued McCarthy.
For the first time ever a charity.com is requiring standards for nonprofit membership, building a premium resource brand strategically, one nonprofit at a time. Therefore, only nonprofits that have been established for at least 3 years, have no IRS sanctions and who will provide a current IRS 990 form proving that no less than 66% of expenditures are devoted to the organization's mission and are non-administrative expenses, are accepted. Hundreds of nonprofits have already joined the CharityAmerica.com network including: Save the Children, Boston Partners in Education, The Giving Back Fund, Rosie's Place, Women's Educational and Industrial Union, The American Ireland fund, Share Our Strength, and Steppingstone Foundation.
No other e-philanthropy site offers such a comprehensive and efficient online "village," helping charities and individuals create kind acts with just a click. CharityAmerica.com works through a collection of "Causeways"- virtual gathering places where individuals and organizations exchange information, gifts, tickets, opportunities and raise awareness and funds.
- Information Causeway- nonprofits are profiled in depth, with a direct link to their primary Web site.
- Shopping Causeway- individuals can link to hundreds of online merchants and shop, knowing a percentage of their total purchase goes to the member charity of their choice.
- Event Causeway - nonprofits post and individuals find events to attend, support or volunteer.
- Donation Causeway - individuals and organizations donate money and gifts in-kind to nonprofits.
- Volunteer Causeway - nonprofits post service opportunities and individuals match their desires and talents to volunteer requests. Ticket Causeway- individuals donate unusable tickets to member charities.
- Ticket Causeway - ticketholders may use the Ticket Causeway as a way to donate unwanted tickets for members of a charity to enjoy.
To become a part of the CharityAmerica network, nonprofit organizations can simply log on and apply. To learn more about the network call 1-877-KINDACT or log on to www.CharityAmerica.com today.
CharityAmerica.com Partners with the New York Rangers -BOSTON, November, 2000-
New York, NY - CharityAmerica.com, the premium online nonprofit network, recently announced a partnership with the New York Rangers. CharityAmerica.com is an online "village," which unites donors, volunteers and businesses with qualified charities from across the country. The alliance with the Rangers and other professional sports teams ensures that extra tickets are channeled to worthy beneficiaries.
"By linking with the Rangers and their affiliated charities we enable people without the resources to attend sporting events," said Timothy McCarthy, CEO of CharityAmerica.com. "The Internet is a powerful tool, and this alliance provides valuable links to qualified charities across the country," continued McCarthy.
When a ticket holder realizes he or she can't attend a game, they simply log on to CharityAmerica.com, link to the New York Rangers site and donate their tickets to one of the Ranger's selected charities.
"We are pleased to provide our season ticket holders with this convenient way to share unused tickets with people who will really appreciate them," explained John Rosasco, Vice President, Public Relations, New York Rangers. "By linking to CharityAmerica.com, we have strengthened our community relations resources and made many sports fans feel good."
The site is a catalyst for explosive Web-driven growth in charitable giving, volunteerism and corporate cause-related marketing. The CharityAmerica.com network provides multifaceted solutions for nonprofit organizations, sponsorship opportunities for businesses and a tremendous resource for the public. Nonprofit organizations can capitalize on high-volume, high-concentration Internet traffic to gain exposure to prospective donors, volunteers and tickets. Members must meet standards to qualify to be on the site.
People who hold-but cannot use-tickets to upcoming sports or entertainment events can use this tool to donate their tickets to CharityAmerica.com member nonprofits. Viewers simply log on to donate valuable resources, time, money and tickets to events. CharityAmerica.com works through a collection of "Causeways"--virtual gathering places where individuals and organizations exchange information. The Ticket Causeway hosts the link to the New York Rangers. Through this channel, tickets are made available directly to interested charities through a direct exchange.
On the Information Causeway, nonprofits are featured with direct links to their Web sites. The Event Causeway showcases upcoming nonprofit happenings. The Volunteer Causeway connects people with organizations in need of their skills. The Donations Causeway enables individuals and companies to give gifts from toys to furniture to computers.
Through a strategic partnership with the New York Rangers, CharityAmerica.com is helping charities to thrive in today's technological marketplace. On CharityAmerica kindness and technology are linked to unlock the power of e-Philanthropy. To learn more about the CharityAmerica.com network call 1-877-KIND ACT or log on to www.CharityAmerica.com.
CharityAmerica.com Partners with the New York Giants -BOSTON, November 17, 2000-
CharityAmerica.com, the premium online nonprofit network, today announced a partnership with the New York Giants. CharityAmerica.com is an online "village," which unites donors, volunteers and businesses with qualified charities from across the country. The alliance with the Giants and other professional sports teams ensures that extra tickets are channeled to worthy beneficiaries.
"By linking with the Giants and their affiliated charities we enable people without the financial resources to attend sporting events," said Timothy McCarthy, CharityAmerica.com CEO. "The Internet is a powerful tool, and this alliance provides valuable links to qualified charities," continued McCarthy.
When a ticket holder realizes he or she can't attend a game, he or she simply logs on to CharityAmerica.com, link to the New York Giants site and contact one of the Giant's selected charities. CharityAmerica's Ticket Causeway is a valuable reference tool, which will encourage direct contact from a ticket holder to an interested nonprofit organization.
"We are pleased to provide our season ticket holders with this convenient way to share unused tickets with people who will really appreciate them," explained John Mara, Executive Vice President, New York Giants. "By linking to CharityAmerica.com, we have strengthened our community relations resources and made many sports fans feel good."
The site is a catalyst for explosive Web-driven growth in charitable giving, volunteerism and corporate cause-related marketing. The CharityAmerica.com network provides multifaceted solutions for nonprofit organizations and a tremendous resource for the public. Through a strategic partnership with the New York Giants, CharityAmerica.com is helping charities to thrive in today's technological marketplace. To learn more about the CharityAmerica.com network call 1-877-KIND ACT or log on to www.CharityAmerica.com.
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