Give Time During National Volunteer Month With Reward Volunteers 3.0

CABOT, Vt., April 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- In the spirit of National Volunteer Month, Cabot Creamery Cooperative -- the New England and upstate New York farm-family owned dairy cooperative widely known as the maker's of the "World's Best Cheddar" -- is pleased to announce the top performers in another inspiring round of Reward Volunteers 3.0. The program, a free computer widget and easy-to-use mobile app for iPhone, enables individuals and organizations to track the time they spend volunteering in their communities. From February 28 through March 31, their combined efforts totaled 7,200 hours of volunteer work, benefiting 330 non-profit organizations across the United States.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120213/MM52737LOGO)

"What better way to celebrate National Volunteer Month than by donating time to make a difference in communities everywhere?" said Cabot Director of Marketing & Integrated Services, Jen Neary. "Reward Volunteers does just that, and by posting hours through the program, volunteers will inspire many of their Facebook friends to get involved. We know this is true, because in the first two months of Reward Volunteers 3.0, 14,722 hours have already been logged, benefitting almost 500 non-profit organizations."

"Reward Volunteers is easy and intuitive to use," Neary said. "Participants download the Reward Volunteers iPhone app or use the web widget to log activity and encourage friends to get involved by sharing on Facebook or via email. Phase Two also allows participants to take pictures using the iPhone app and share them on Facebook. The more hours users log for the organizations of their choice, the more Reach points they'll earn, which equals more opportunities for them and the organizations they serve to win cash and prizes. They can also earn Reach points by sharing their activity on Facebook or via email. The more "likes" and comments their posts receive, the more Reach points they earn."

Prizes are awarded each month, from February through June, with Grand Prizes being awarded in July. The list of amazing prizes include: cash for individuals and organizations; Liberty Hill Farm vacations; King Arthur Flour gift cards; National Cooperative Grocers Association gift cards; Keurig Coffee Machines with a year supply of Green Mountain Coffee; Cabot Cheddar Gift Baskets; Farm Family Gift Baskets; shoes from Dansko; and much more. Grand Prize Winners will receive big cash prizes, super-sized Cabot Farm Family Gift Baskets, Vermont Ski Passes, and fabulous vacation packages to Liberty Hill Farm, Emergo Farms, Couture Farm, Smugglers Notch, and Escobar's Inn. To see a full list of prizes, visit http://www.rewardvolunteers.coop/prizes.php.

"I think winning is a real bonus. I enjoy helping people with my free time," said Tom Stanley, a United Way volunteer from Iowa, and the winner of this month's $500 prize for a Reward Volunteers user. "Having won this prize, it shows that others realize the time and effort that so many people are giving of themselves in these hard times."

This month's winning organization, the Spotsylvania Volunteer Fire Department, will receive a $1,000 donation from Cabot. "Our Volunteers use this app as a way to show the dedication to community service," said Fire Department Secretary Sue Carter. "The Department is excited to receive the cash prize and we will be using it to purchase life-saving safety equipment for our providers."

Reward Volunteers was conceived and created by Cabot Creamery Cooperative, and is sponsored by AARP Create the Good, All for Good, Marriott, Co+op Stronger Together, Hope for Women, Points of Light, Full Circle, and Volunteer Spot.

For more information on Rewards Volunteers 3.0, visit www.rewardvolunteers.coop

Reward Volunteers 3.0 Winners

$1,000 Prize for Non-Profit Organization

Spotsylvania Volunteer Fire Department – Virginia

$500 Prize for Reward Volunteers User

Tom Stanley, Iowa – United Way

Liberty Hill Farm Vacation

Donna R., New York – Hicksville Public Library

Emergo Farms Vacation

Jamie H., Ohio – American Heritage Girls

NCGA $100 Gift Card

Wanda D., North Carolina – Family & Consumer Sciences Foundation

King Arthur Flour $100 Gift Card

Barb C., Maryland – BWI Business Partnership, Inc.

Pair of Dansko Shoes

Kristi F., South Carolina – Wellness Council

Jason C., Virginia – Spotsylvania Volunteer Fire Department

Farm Families Basket (Freund Farm CowPots, Neighborly Farms of VT Cheese Variety Pack, Taylor Brothers Farm Maple Syrup)

Sue C., Virginia - Spotsylvania Volunteer Fire Department

$75 Cabot Cheese Gift Basket

Alexandra M., Florida – Orlando City Government

Sending Milk Books & Hope for Women Greeting Cards

Tanya R., Virginia – USO Warrior & Family Center

Patti W., Florida – Manor Oaks Nursing & Rehabilitation Center

Jessica B., Arizona – Beads of Courage

Wendy C., Florida – Give Kids the World

A complete list of the organizations benefiting from the Reward Volunteers can be accessed at: http://www.cabotcheese.coop/orgs.html

ABOUT CABOT CREAMERY COOPERATIVE

Cabot Creamery Cooperative has been in continuous operation in Vermont since 1919, and makes a full line of cheeses, yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese and butter. Widely known as makers of "The World's Best Cheddar," Cabot is owned by the 1200 dairy farm families of Agri-Mark, the Northeast's premier dairy cooperative, with farms located throughout New England and upstate New York. For more information on Cabot, visit: http://www.cabotcheese.coop

Cabot Creamery Cooperative is the world's first cheese maker and dairy cooperative to achieve B Corporation Certification, a validation of its attention to environmental and social impacts on stakeholders.

April is National Volunteer Month – To Learn How To Better Support The Non-Profit of Your Choice, go to:  www.rewardvolunteers.coop, win prizes and cash for you and your non-profit.

Contact: Bob Schiers

(888) 214.9444 or [email protected]

SOURCE Cabot Creamery Cooperative