Launched on July 30 as the largest clearinghouse of volunteer service opportunities ever offered, the USA Freedom Corps Volunteer Network continues to grow with the addition of more than 10,000 new nonprofit and community organizations around the world that are part of the Idealist.org network. The USA Freedom Corps Volunteer Network is a massive web-based public-private enterprise housed on the USA Freedom Corps web site at www.usafreedomcorps.gov that enables volunteers to search according to their interests and their geographic location.

Idealist.org is a project of Action Without Borders, a nonprofit organization that works to connect people, organizations and resources to help build a world where all people can live free and dignified lives. Organizations in 153 countries around the world use Idealist.org to promote their programs and volunteer opportunities.

The addition of Idealist.org is the first step in the continuing expansion of the USA Freedom Corps Volunteer Network. "With the addition of Idealist.org, we are increasing the number of organizations represented through the USA Freedom Corps Volunteer Network to more than 60,000 organizations," said John Bridgeland, Director of the USA Freedom Corps. "Idealist.org's participation in the USA Freedom Corps Volunteer Network will particularly strengthen the overseas opportunities it offers to America's volunteers."

The USA Freedom Corps Volunteer Network allows potential volunteers to find volunteer opportunities at home or abroad by entering geographic information, such as zip code or state, and areas of interest into a search function. The search will return information on specific service opportunities including one-time events, ongoing programs, full-time service, overseas service and volunteer projects than can be completed from home or from a computer.

In his State of the Union address, President George W. Bush called on all Americans to make a lifetime commitment of at least two years to service to their communities, our country and the world. He created the USA Freedom Corps office at the White House to foster an American culture of service, citizenship and responsibility, and to make it easier for Americans to answer his Call to Service. For more information on the USA Freedom Corps or the USA Freedom Corps Volunteer Network, go to www.usafreedomcorps.gov or by calling 1-877-USA-Corps.

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