Washington , D.C. – In collaboration with Volunteer² of Canada, Partners of the Americas has begun an unprecedented effort that uses technology to accelerate an emerging culture of volunteerism in Latin America and the Caribbean. New Heights in Volunteerism will help communities link volunteers with nonprofit organizations to meet local needs in more than 30 countries. Even more, it’s a tool that corporations, governments and nonprofits alike can use to join the growing movement of socially responsible action throughout the Western Hemisphere .

Serving as Honorary Chair of New Heights in Volunteerism is broadcast journalist Myrka Dellanos. Named 2004’s “Star of the Year” by People en Español, Dellanos is perhaps best known as the decade-long host of Univision Network’s news magazine show “Primer Impacto” and other programs on the network. Dellanos is also committed to charitable initiatives throughout the world at the grassroots level. They have included volunteering to help disaster victims and serving as the national spokesperson for Save the Children, which helps disadvantaged youth worldwide.

In Latin America , volunteerism is growing but remains at lower levels than in North America . According to the most recent data from the Johns Hopkins Comparative Nonprofit Sector Project, whereas 22 percent of U.S. adults volunteer, only 6 to 8 percent do so in countries like Argentina , Brazil , Colombia and Perú. But that is changing, sparking a movement in which more Latin Americans are giving back to their communities. Partners volunteers such as Antonio Sampaio in Brazil are part of that trend and have witnessed the shift: “More and more people in Belem are talking about the importance of giving our time to help our own community,” Sampaio said. “There is a buzz about volunteerism, and we must seize this opportunity to make it easy for people with the will to volunteer to find needs and take action.”

New Heights in Volunteerism kicked off in Belem, Brazil, where a volunteer chapter of Partners spearheaded a call for more volunteerism in its community. The initial phase of the initiative will climax with a fundraising climb up Mount Aconcagua , the highest peak in the Americas . At 23,000 feet, the trek represents a great challenge, similar to the one that all communities face in elevating the culture of volunteerism.

Partners will use its 40 years of expertise in the region to connect citizens with local organizations that would most benefit from volunteer efforts. Online tools developed by Volunteer² will facilitate those connections.