Beginning January 1, 2010, Disney is offering the “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program that celebrates volunteer service. One million people who volunteer in their communities will get a free one-day admission to the parks at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida or Disneyland in California.
You can go to DisneyParks.com to search for volunteer opportunities through the HandsOn Network and sign up for a day of volunteer service. Many of the opportunities will be for projects in which entire families can participate.
Disney has always been about celebration — …

Travelers today can make a difference in their travels simply by deciding who they want to travel with. You have the option to vote with your dollars to support travel providers for being socially responsible. Some travel companies are doing great things for our world and the goal is for more companies to not only incorporate social responsible principles in their business practices, but to be innovators.

Condé Nast Traveler started The World Savers Awards, now in its third year, to recognize hotels, airlines and travel companies globally for their efforts …

Extreme do-gooders, you’ve heard of them in the news, seen them in movies, and maybe even know one in your social circle. They are the ones that are out there combating poverty and disease, improving children’s education or protecting the environment. They work relentlessly for change that may take generations to see. These extreme do-gooders are rare, “only 1 social entrepreneur for every 10 million of the rest of us, according to calculations of Ashoka, an organization that funds social entrepreneurs around the world.” So what makes these folks tick? …

Television is a good barometer of society. With a rising social conscience and the call to do good by the likes of President Obama and celebrities like Bono, there inevitably will be a show on this topic. “The Philanthropist” premiered Wednesday night on NBC. It’s not about some rich guy sitting around a conference table listening to different charity requests and doling out checks. It’s 21st century philanthropy — giving by getting involved, not by giving from afar.
Teddy Rist, the wealthy businessman hero of “The Philanthropist” confided that he didn’t …

For those of us watching television this week, Obama became the face of volunteerism. On MLK’s day (aka day of service), which was the day before his inauguration, Obama helped paint a homeless shelter for teens and visited a military hospital in Washington DC. His message was “we are the change.” He asked Americans to turn that day’s effort “into an ongoing commitment to enriching the lives of others in their communities, their cities, and their country.” He pronounced that “if we’re waiting for somebody else to do something, it …

We came across this great website, GoodShop, that allow you to contribute to your favorite charities at the same time you book your travel online. Start your search at Goodshop.com, choose a cause and then begin shopping at any of the dozens of travel Web sites–Travelocity, Expedia, Budget Rent-A-Car, Delta, and the like. Every time you complete a transaction, a certain percentage or dollar amount of your purchase will go to the charity you’ve chosen. It’s that simple!
Aside from travel, they have dozens of categories, so you …