Hands Up! Volunteer Expo
by Heather Ferguson - Local In The Know

Moncton, October 9, 2008:Welcome to the Hands Up! Volunteer Expo to be held from October 24 to 25 at the Moncton Coliseum. A celebration of volunteerism in our community, this event is the first and only one of its kind in Canada and may come to serve as a blueprint for similar events to take place on a regular basis throughout our nation. Open to the public with free admission, there is certain to be something for everyone. Drop by and join in the celebration of the gift of giving which is an act that blesses the giver and the recipient in equal measure.

One of the cornerstones of community is volunteerism. It is a concept that has its roots in the idea of "noblesse oblige" which springs from the distant past and which dictated that the more fortunate in society were duty bound to give a "hands up" to others less fortunate that they. Today, volunteerism is as worthy a cause as ever, engaging the hearts and minds of individuals as well as major corporations in caring for others in need in our community. In the Greater Moncton Area, the upcoming Hands Up! Expo will feature over 100 non-profit organizations, agencies, and services with roots from all over the Province of New Brunswick and Canada who will showcase their programs through a variety of engaging mediums including seminars, displays, and interactive presentations. With the watchwords "participate, activate, and create" as a guide, volunteer opportunities for local residents will be brought to the forefront during this event in an effort to promote solutions for those in need in any number of spheres including youth, seniors, social, sports, or the less fortunate. In what promises to be a dynamic experience, the 2008 Hands Up! Volunteer Expo is expected to attract upwards of 6,000 attendees from all walks of life as a result of one of their initiatives "Be a Volunteer, Invite a Volunteer to attend."

The Hands Up! Volunteer Expo will serve a twofold purpose. It not only opens up avenues of volunteer opportunities to ordinary citizens who want to help in any given field of need, but it is the perfect venue for non-profit organizations to hone their own administrative and marketing skills in recruiting volunteers who have the right fit for their organization by utilizing the same tools major corporations use such as web-marketing, identifying areas in need of core funding, and developing blueprints for changes in demographics, needs, services, etc.

Hands Up! Volunteer Expo is the creation of local entrepreneur and philanthropist Tony Hebert who brings this venue to fruition under the auspices of ShareKnowledge Inc. of which he is the owner and president. An energetic, passionate man, well acquainted with the art of volunteering, Tony Hebert says, "Volunteering is not a job; it is a gift. Volunteers give the gift of themselves to worthy causes tirelessly everyday, so the Hands Up! Volunteer Expo is a way to give back to volunteers and to celebrate the work they do." Indeed, Tony Hebert effectively bridges the gap between the corporate world and non-profit organizations with ShareKnowledge Inc. which he founded to promote a non-profit and volunteer marketing strategy to increase volunteer capacity to various non-profit groups such as the Moncton Boys and Girls Club and United Way. Using the vast knowledge and experience gleaned from his years in the pharmaceutical publishing business, Tony Hebert has created a viable format for elevating the profile of the role of volunteerism in the community.

In what promises to be an informative and fun event, the Hands Up! Volunteer Expo will provide plenty of entertainment including a free lunch BBQ each day for all attendees and exhibitors sponsored by Sobey's, Lounsbury's, and Cavendish Farms, and music by the 8th Hussars Pipes and Drums, and the Harmonie Codiac Concert Band. "We will have lots of 'noise' in celebration," says Tony Hebert. Also, the Trivia Quest Challenge Bingo contest for attendees will offer a lot of fun, education about our non profits and a grand prize valued at over $3,000! Codiac Transit will provide Free Public Transportation to attendees requiring a ride to the venue, and Opening Ceremonies will commence at 7pm on Friday, October 24, and will feature Senator Marilyn Trenholm Counsell with Hands Up! Welcoming Remarks, Marc Lalonde, National Board, United Way Canada with Hands Up! Welcoming Remarks, and Ruth MacKenzie, President, Volunteer Canada as the Keynote Speaker.

For more information, contact (506) 389-1055, e-mail at info@handsupexpo.com, or visit the Hands Up! Volunteer Expo detailed and informative website at www.handsupexpo.com and take your place in the ranks of the many men and women of the Greater Moncton Area who make up the formidable volunteer workforce! Come celebrate!