Sidewalk Community Day Generates $3,000 and Counting For Metro Area Volunteer Centers

MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 15, 1997 — $3,000 is just the start to what Sidewalk
™
city guide hopes to raise for the Twin Cities Metro Area Volunteer Centers and leading causes through Sidewalk Community Day. Anyone customizing the Community section on Sidewalk today (http://twincities.sidewalk.com/) can learn more about volunteering in the Twin Cities and, at the same time, help Sidewalk donate up to $25,000 in Microsoft® software to the United Way Volunteer Center (Minneapolis), The Volunteer Center (St. Paul) and Community Volunteer Service (Stillwater) and their agencies. Community is a new, ongoing section of Sidewalk featuring an extensive database of volunteer opportunities as well as editorial content.

Sidewalk will donate $10 in Microsoft software for every person who customizes its Community pages today, up to a total of $25,000. To customize Community, users need only visit the Community section on Sidewalk and provide their name and e-mail address and enter what type of cause or issue interests them most. Sidewalk Community Day’s goal is to educate consumers on the Twin Cities’ vast volunteer opportunities and motivate them to take action.

At the end of Community Day, Sidewalk will tally the support for each cause or issue and award the software to the top cause, the volunteer centers and related agencies.

The United Way Volunteer Center (Minneapolis), The Volunteer Center (St. Paul) and Community Volunteer Service (Stillwater) all provided data that Sidewalk has compiled into Minnesota’s largest online database of volunteer opportunities – nearly 1,000 agencies offering more than 5,000 positions, with complete descriptions of corresponding responsibilities and time commitments needed. At any time, users can customize Community to find opportunities right for them.

In addition to the extensive database, Sidewalk will offer editorial content spotlighting agencies in the Twin Cities, outstanding volunteers from the community, and the often-overlooked opportunities for ordinary citizens to make a real difference in the lives of their neighbors. Each volunteer center works to fill the volunteer needs of agencies within the metro area.

“Our association with the Metro Area Volunteer Centers will enable anyone with Web access to find the volunteer opportunities that match their interests, strengths and availability,” said Catherine Stephan, Twin Cities Sidewalk Community producer. “Users can find out more about the sponsoring agency and contact the volunteer coordinator directly, often via e-mail. Now thousands of opportunities are literally at people’s fingertips.”

“Sidewalk is all about getting the most out of your city and your leisure time,” said Doug Henrich, Twin Cities Sidewalk general manager. “The Community offering on Sidewalk is a perfect way that Microsoft can not only donate time and energy, but provide a unique solution to help our community help itself.”

Sidewalk is the personalized city guide to entertainment, published by Microsoft Corp. Sidewalk is available free on the World Wide Web (connect-time charges may apply) at (http://sidewalk.com/) .

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

Microsoft and Sidewalk are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Note to editors : If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft’s corporate information pages.

Related Posts