People Making a Difference through Community Service, Inc.

CONTACT:

P.O. Box 120189
Boston, MA 02112-0189
617-282-7177
www.pmd.org

Lori Tsuruda, Founder & Executive Director

DESCRIPTION:

“Help Needy Kids Get Ready for School. Sunday 9:45-12:15.” “Prepare Meals for People with HIV/AIDS. Tuesday 5:45-8:15.” “Spruce up the beloved Puppet Showplace Theatre. Saturday 10:15-3:45.” These are typical postings on PMD’s website, which very effectively promotes philanthropy by connecting volunteers and charities. The volunteers are looking for ways to help but need help themselves in finding the right opportunities. The charities need help but lack resources to find the right people at the right time. PMD was founded in 1992 to bridge that gap. It creates ongoing relationships with recipient charities, organizes projects in accord with their needs, and then offers volunteers diverse opportunities to choose and engage in hands-on work. Over 4000 people have volunteered with PMD, assisting 109 local charities by participating in nearly 700 service projects in all fields of philanthropy. Currently they engage and prepare over 600 volunteers annually, in over 60 one-time, hands-on service projects which its own volunteer project managers plan and organize to assist over 30 charities. Their budget is extremely modest; their impacts on volunteers, the charities they serve, and on the beneficiaries of the charities, is priceless.

(2008: PROMOTING PHILANTHROPY: General)