Released on = July 31, 2007, 12:53 pm

Press Release Author = Randy Tyler / Macdonald Youth Services

Industry = Non Profit

Press Release Summary = Winnipeg, Canada, August 1, 2007: Most not-for-profit
organizations still rely (only) on face-to-face volunteers to help plan, organize
and execute their special events. However, Canadian-based charitable organization,
Macdonald Youth Services (MYS), has demonstrated that Internet-based volunteers can
play a key role in the success of special events.

Press Release Body = Winnipeg, Canada, August 1, 2007: Most not-for-profit
organizations still rely (only) on face-to-face volunteers to help plan, organize
and execute their special events. However, Canadian-based charitable organization,
Macdonald Youth Services (MYS), has demonstrated that Internet-based volunteers can
play a key role in the success of special events.

To mark their major milestone anniversary, MYS held a series of special events to
illustrate and celebrate their remarkable 75 year history helping at-risk children:
A digital client art exhibit, showcasing the talents of their clients, whether in
sculpture, pencil, poetry or paintings; a narrated time line presentation that
conveyed MYS\'s humble beginnings in 1929 to today, where service is provided for
thousands of Manitoba\'s at-risk children; a concert fundraiser, wherein bands
donated their time and talent to a fund to buy arts and cultural program materials
for MYS\'s clients; a reception at the Dalnavert Museum, the former home of MYS\'s
founder, Hugh John Macdonald, and a Diamond Dinner.

Whether it was, for example, voicing Public Service Announcements (PSAs) to promote
their events, poster or advertisement creation, restoring old photographs, scanning
photos, retyping old documents, designing invitations and programs, crafting new
releases, developing multimedia presentations and DVDs or producing a video PSA for
broadcast on local TV, online volunteers from around the globe played a key role in
the success of MYS\'s 75th anniversary events.

To co-ordinate their anniversary events, MYS hired Julie Fine. Although an
experienced event planner, Fine had not worked with online volunteers before.

\"I have worked on a number of events in the past, but this is the first time that I
have been able to work with virtual volunteers and it was an absolutely amazing
experience\", stated Fine \"I had no idea the quality of work that was available and
the variety that the virtual volunteers could provide, and I was constantly amazed
as I worked over the past eight months on a number of projects, \" continued Fine.

\"Digital presentations, as opposed to physical exhibits and presentations, were easy
to display and distribute via a number of mediums, from the Web to DVDs,\" stated MYS
Online Volunteer Program Developer, Randy Tyler. \"Moreover, (digital) multimedia
content can be easily archived and re-purposed (for example, our narrated multimedia
time line presentation is now part of our employee orientation package), added
Tyler.

"Without the virtual volunteers, we would've had to pay for a number of services and
this would've meant money taken away from an arts & cultural trust fund we're
preparing for youth, so that they can take arts classes, theatre and dance," said
Fine.

To recognize and show appreciation for the significant contribution online
volunteers made towards the success of MYS\'s anniversary events, Event Co-ordinator
Julie Fine delivered a video thank you message to them. The 1.5 minute video, which
was produced by MYS\'s New York based online volunteer Richard Wagner, speaks to the
amazement Fine experienced in working with these highly-skilled online volunteers.
The video is available for download in various formats (WMV, Flash SWF, FLV Flash,
MPG4, MPG2 and DivX) at the following URL:

http://www.mys.ca/volunter/events/

To subscribe or unsubscribe from MYS's Online Volunteering News and Announcements
E-Mail
List, please see the URL below:

http://www.mys.ca/cgi-bin/media/mail_list.pl

Macdonald Youth Services (MYS), a trusted and respected registered charitable
healing and support agency based in Winnipeg, Canada, has been Building Better
Tomorrows for Manitoba\'s at-risk children since 1929. Through a variety of
innovative and leading programming, MYS provides services for thousands of
Manitoba's young people on a yearly basis. Since 1998, MYS has been at the forefront
of successfully utilizing highly-skilled online volunteers from around the globe to
enhance their programs and services.

Web Site = http://www.mys.ca/aov

Contact Details = For Further Information:

Randy Tyler, Volunteer Coordinator/Webmaster
Macdonald Youth Services
http://www.mys.ca/media
Winnipeg, Canada
T: 1-204-949-4292
E: http://www.mys.ca/cgi-bin/randy_email.cgi
Skype: randytyler_canada