On August 15, 2006, Step Up!, the volunteer network for the Grand Strand region, will officially join 1-800-Volunteer, a national volunteer network support service linking more than 100 communities across the U.S. StepUp's association with 1-800-Volunteer will make it easier for Grand Strand charities to network and to access a wide array of support services. Visit Step-Up! at www.stepup-grandstrand.org.

1-800-Volunteer is the only online community-based volunteer management tool that combines recruiting tools with event management, flexible reporting, emergency response and volunteer recognition features. Designed by and built especially for Volunteer Centers by the Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network, the 1-800-Volunteer system allows volunteers to search and find opportunities 24 hours a day. In conjunction with the automatic reminders, VolunteerAlerts that deliver automated e-mails with updated opportunities that match volunteers' interests and availability, the online service allows participants to set their own calendar, and provides the essential tools for busy volunteers.

No only will Step Up's association with 1-800-Volunteer provide nonprofit organizations in the Grand Strand area with a convenient way to recruit volunteers, but it will also provide management, recognition and impact reporting tools, enabling local organizations to report on their impact in the community - tasks they did not have the resources or capacity to tackle before the rollout of 1-800-Volunteer in the community.

"Horry County alone has over 165 not-for-profit organizations that rely on volunteers to successfully assist their mission. Step Up! will enhance their volunteer recruitment, training and services providing volunteer action to meet our community's most critical needs," said Valerie Harrington, executive director of Step Up!

The service is available in English and Spanish and is free for local organizations and volunteers. It provides essential tools for busy volunteers with features that include local community event calendars, tools to support episodic volunteering and features that allow Step Up! to quickly mobilize volunteers during disaster situations.

"Volunteer Centers play a critical role in ensuring that organizations on 1-800-Volunteer are qualified and run high-quality volunteer programs," said Robert Goodwin, president and CEO of the Points of Light Foundation. "We are excited that Volunteer Centers are seeing the benefit of being a part of a national network and are using tools that will help them and their community-based organizations to track and report on volunteering in their local communities."

1-800-Volunteer has registered over 100 Volunteer Centers from across the nation and is currently active in 50 communities and 31 states, including: Albuquerque, N.M.; Annapolis, Md.; Santa Rosa, Calif.; Aurora, Colo.; Baton Rouge, La.; Denver, Colo.; Memphis, Tenn.; Chicago, Ill.; Athens, Ohio; Duluth, Minn.; Gurnee, Ill., Hyannis, Mass.; Las Vegas, Nev.; Lincoln, Neb.; Alexandria, Va.; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Houston, Texas; Missoula, Mont., Roanoke, Va.; Daytona Beach, Fla.; and now Conway, S.C.

1-800-Volunteer is a national network to help volunteers find local and national opportunities to serve. The site provides a nationwide database of volunteer opportunities and volunteer management tools to Volunteer Center members and the organizations in their network. 1-800-volunteer is the only solution that fulfills the full 360Ëš cycle of volunteering needs in the community, integrating every aspect of the volunteer process from recruitment, referrals, and record of service to recognition and reporting.