Volunteerism Trumps Dancing, Video Games (and for Some, Sex!)

NEW YORK, April 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Do you think your neighbors would rather volunteer than go out for a night of dancing?  Or play video games?  Do you think they'd choose to lend a hand instead of simply writing out a check?  If not, you might be surprised by the findings of WE tv (www.wetv.com) and USA WEEKEND's (www.usaweekend.com) new report, coming out in the April 16-18 issue.  The What You Get from Giving Report, WE tv and USA WEEKEND's joint study, examined what motivates Americans to volunteer, what their experiences have been like and gauges their interest in volunteering versus other social activities.  The findings showcase an ever-growing dedication to community issues and genuine interest in helping others, nationwide.

Putting the old perception of "lazy Americans" to shame, nearly 75% of those polled Americans would prefer to donate time and energy rather than write a check to support their favorite causes – a preference that seems to not have been influenced by the economic downturn.  Public service, according to the report, is becoming a more prevalent occurrence in daily life, with 85% of Americans saying they have volunteered at least once in their lifetime, and 60% reporting they have contributed in the past two years. The What You Get From Giving Report also reveals that 85% of Americans are volunteering as much, if not more, than they were two years ago, while only 7% report they have given more money.  

Both WE tv and USA WEEKEND are actively involved in driving awareness for community volunteerism.  WE tv established its WE Volunteer campaign, a successful three-year offshoot of WE tv's public affairs initiative WE Empowers Women, in 2009.  WE Volunteer is dedicated to inspiring women to volunteer for causes of interest within their communities, by volunteering just one full day (24 hours) throughout the year.  The program has already mobilized thousands to volunteer across the country.  The network has also recently launched the WE Do Good Awards, an awards program designed to honor and celebrate extraordinary women who give their time to help others in need.

"What surprised us most about our findings is the depth of enjoyment derived by Americans who give back.  It's heartening and important to note that the report uncovers that volunteerism is perceived as 'fun' as opposed to a chore by the majority of people," says Kenetta Bailey, WE tv's Senior Vice President of Marketing.  "We know from the more than 500 stories shared by volunteers on our WEVolunteer.tv website that women seem as committed as ever to making change a reality for those in need."

For nearly 20 years, USA WEEKEND has sponsored Make A Difference Day, the nation's largest day of volunteering.  Each year on the fourth Saturday of October, millions of Americans in thousands of communities reach out to help their neighbors.

"When people are in need, Americans respond," says Brenda Turner, USA WEEKEND's Executive Editor.  "We see it year after year on Make A Difference Day when millions of people respond to our annual call to action to simply do something good for someone else."

POLL FINDINGS

According to the WE tv and USA WEEKEND's What You Get From Giving Report, Americans are genuinely interested and willing to help when they can.  The report discovered that both men and women experience an accomplished feeling from contributing hands-on to causes that drive future volunteering.  The report determines that the sense of satisfaction derived from volunteerism even outweighs other social activities, such as dancing, shopping or playing video games.  Selected findings follow.  Find full poll results in USA WEEKEND's April 16-18 issue.

Economy and Volunteerism - Impact

The state of the economy hasn't affected volunteerism, as 72% of volunteers say they are volunteering about the same amount of time since the economic downturn

• 12% say they are volunteering more time

The majority of volunteers would rather give their time than their money if given the choice

• 72% of volunteers prefer to give their time to help a cause
• 28% would prefer to donate money

Can Volunteerism be Fun?

People would rather volunteer than go out dancing

• 80% of volunteers say they would rather volunteer than go out dancing
• 74% say they would rather volunteer than play video games
• 67% say they would rather volunteer than go shopping
• 55% say they would rather volunteer than listen to music
• 51% say they would rather volunteer than read a book
• 47% say they would rather volunteer than go out to dinner
• 31% say they would rather volunteer than have sex
  • Women are more likely to agree than men (38% v 25%)

About WE tv

WE tv (http://www.wetv.com), a subsidiary of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC, is the premier source for women looking to satisfy their curiosity with fascinating, real-life stories and entertaining, fresh content that is relevant to key stages of their lives. Available in over 76 million homes, WE tv's programming offers viewers compelling perspectives on women's lives ranging from the ordinary to the extraordinary, presented in a non-judgmental voice. The network's popular original series include the signature show Bridezillas; critically acclaimed, viewer favorite The Locator (the network's most-watched-series ever), Amazing Wedding Cakes, My Fair Wedding with David Tutera and Raising Sextuplets. WE tv is available in HD and WE tv On Demand is available in more than 30 million homes.

WE tv's public affairs initiative, WE Empowers Women, is dedicated to creating programs that foster and celebrate women's strength, confidence and diversity. The network's newest initiative, WE Volunteer (http://www.wevolunteer.tv), celebrates the idea that one full day – just 24 hours – of community service can make a difference in someone else's life. The initiative is a call-to-action for women to become more involved in their communities by connecting them with local causes they are passionate about while encouraging them to volunteer.

About USA WEEKEND Magazine

USA WEEKEND Magazine is a national weekly magazine, distributed through more than 700 newspapers in the United States. It created Make A Difference Day in 1992. Awarded for its journalism and design, USA WEEKEND focuses on social issues, entertainment, health, food and travel. USA WEEKEND is a Gannett Co., Inc., publication.

SOURCE WE tv