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Major Employers Kick Off Corporate Challenge For Upcoming Hands Up! Volunteer Expo and Conference (Moncton, New Brunswick - September 24, 2008) - With planning well under way for next month's inaugural Hands Up! Volunteer Expo and Conference, the City of Moncton and some local firms have announced their support for the event by taking part in a unique corporate challenge. Midland, Cavendish Farms, Irving Tissue and Business Development Bank are among several companies in the region joining the City of Moncton in allowing their employees to take an extra hour off at lunch or an hour before the end of the day on Friday, Oct. 24 to attend the Hands Up! event at the Moncton Coliseum. (The event will also be held Saturday, Oct. 25.) "We feel that this Volunteer Expo and Conference is a great way for our employees to discover volunteering opportunities in our community," said Robert Irving, president of the Irving Group of Companies. "The work of volunteers is essential. We encourage other businesses to have their staff visit the expo and learn how they, too, can make a difference in our community." Moncton Mayor George LeBlanc agreed. "Our city is assisted in many ways through volunteering such as community representation on committees, youth recreation and seniors projects and of course our active and vibrant arts and culture community," said Mayor LeBlanc. "Hands Up! will highlight the tangible contribution that volunteering makes to changing and improving what the non-profit organizations can provide to our entire community. We see this every day. The efforts of our volunteers are very much appreciated". Tony Hebert, president of ShareKnowledge Inc., the firm producing the Hands Up! Volunteer Expo and Conference applauds the City of Moncton, the Irving Group of Companies and the other firms for joining the corporate challenge. "This challenge allows business leaders to confidently show their corporate commitment to volunteering," said Hebert. "Not only does our community need to expand its volunteer base to aid groups such as non-profits, research has shown that volunteering can help employees learn team-building, interpersonal, communication and leadership skills. There are so many additional benefits to volunteering. It's a win-win-win for the non-profit sector, the volunteer and the employer!" Those who want more information or wish to sign up for the Hands Up! corporate challenge can visit www.handsupexpo.com and click on "Sign Up! for the Corporate Challenge" in the left menu for details. More than 100 non-profit and voluntary groups will have booths at next month's expo, being organized in conjunction with the United Way of Greater Moncton and Southeastern New Brunswick Region Inc. and the Volunteer Centre of Southeastern New Brunswick Inc. Admission to the event is free. Attendees are asked to bring a non-perishable food item for area food banks or to provide a free-will donation. All proceeds will be distributed among the exhibitors. Codiac Transit will provide free transportation to and from the Hands Up! Volunteer Expo and Conference for exhibitors and attendees. For more information on the Hands Up! Volunteer Expo and Conference, visit www.handsupexpo.com or contact the Hands Up! office at (506) 389-1055
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