MCLEAN, Va., Oct. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Make A Difference Day will take place this Saturday, October 25, in neighborhoods throughout the country, bringing Americans together for the common good. Millions will participate in the nation's largest day of volunteerism, sponsored by Gannett's USA WEEKEND Magazine in partnership with Points of Light, the nation's largest organization dedicated to volunteer service.

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From cleaning parks to working with local animal rescues, thousands of independently created projects are scheduled across the country, comprising efforts from individuals, corporations, universities, communities, states and nonprofit organizations. Gannett is leading nearly 100 volunteer projects across the country - with $490,000 in grant funding from the Gannett Foundation. Points of Light's HandsOn affiliates will be coordinating projects as well.

"Make A Difference Day is a chance for Americans to come together for the common purpose of doing good and helping others," said Gracia Martore, president and chief executive officer, Gannett Co., Inc. "As a company, Gannett is built on serving our local communities, and with Make A Difference Day, we're proud to make a positive impact in the communities we serve and hope it inspires continued volunteerism throughout the year."

"Make A Difference Day has become such a great opportunity for volunteers to change lives," said Tracy Hoover, president of Points of Light. "If you don't currently volunteer, Make A Difference Day is a great opportunity to start. If you already volunteer, this weekend is a great time to ask a friend to join you. Remember, a single person can change a life; millions can change our communities and our nation."

Those looking to start a project or join an existing one can do so at makeadifferenceday.com. The site has information on projects across the country detailing how they will help others on October 25. The interactive database also allows visitors to search for events in their community. Toolkits, a marketing guide and other resources are available to help project planners.

Newman's Own, founded on the philosophy of philanthropy, embraces volunteerism and awards $130,000 in grants to the top 13 projects that make a difference in their local communities. These grants can be used to expand the winner's project or can be donated to the project leader's charity of choice. A supporter of Make a Difference Day since 1994, Newman's Own offers more than 100 varieties of high quality food and beverage products with the commitment to donate all profits to charity.

"Since the founding of Newman's Own in 1982, Paul Newman believed in the importance of giving back. He respected the Make A Difference Day initiative and viewed it as a great mechanism for encouraging volunteerism. We are proud to continue the tradition," said Tom Indoe, president and chief operating officer, Newman's Own.

Award honorees will be featured in a future issue of USA WEEKEND Magazine and will be presented with their awards at an event in Washington, DC, in spring 2015. A $10,000 All-Star Award funded by the Gannett Foundation will be presented to a former national honoree who exhibits continued excellence in volunteerism.

About GANNETT:
Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) is an international media and marketing solutions company that informs and engages more than 110 million people every month through its powerful network of broadcast, digital, mobile and publishing properties. Our portfolio of trusted brands offers marketers unmatched local-to-national reach and customizable, innovative marketing solutions across any platform. Gannett is committed to connecting people - and the companies who want to reach them - with their interests and communities. For more information, visit gannett.com.

About USA WEEKEND:
USA WEEKEND Magazine is a national weekly magazine, distributed through nearly 800 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. (NYSE: GCI) publication. For more information, visit usaweekend.com.

About Points of Light:
Points of Light, the world's largest organization dedicated to volunteer service, mobilizes millions of people to take action that is changing the world. Through affiliates in 250 cities and partnerships with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages 4 million volunteers in 30 million hours of service each year. It brings the power of people where it's needed most. For more information, go to pointsoflight.org.

About Newman's Own:
Newman's Own, Inc., founded by Paul Newman in 1982, offers more than 100 varieties of great tasting food and beverage products made with the finest ingredients. Its range of products includes salad dressings, pasta sauces, salsa, frozen pizza, frozen skillet meals, microwave popcorn, and refrigerated lemonades. Newman's Own Foundation continues Paul Newman's commitment to donate all profits to charity. More than $400 million has been given to thousands of charities since 1982. Learn more at newmansown.com and newmansownfoundation.org

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SOURCE USA TODAY