NEW YORK, Sept. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- MyGoodDeed.org, a prominent nonprofit group created by family members and friends of 9/11 victims, today launched one of the world's first social "cause" networking Web communities, dedicated and custom-built to help individuals and groups motivated by the events of 9/11 to transform simple good deeds into significant causes that can help reshape their communities, the nation and the world. The site has been in beta test since August 20, 2008.

"Our mission coming out of the 9/11 tragedy has been to encourage Americans and other citizens around the world to step up their commitment to charity and service, and in the process to keep alive the remarkable spirit of unity and compassion that we all shared after the September 11th attacks," said David Paine, co-founder and president of MyGoodDeed.org. "We have been extremely pleased by the traffic that our old Web site has received, typically more than 250,000 visitors with many posting good deeds on the anniversary of 9/11 each year. Now with our new site, people will be able to do far more than simply post good deeds once a year. They'll be able to start their own causes, connect with others who share similar interests in social causes, and stay involved throughout the entire year, utilizing powerful social networking tools to become true self-directed agents of change."

Building a Bridge To Engagement

"While some social networks are beginning to offer applications and channels that enable people and nonprofits to build friends and raise money for their causes, the vision of MyGoodDeed.org is to go further," Paine said. "MyGoodDeed.org intends to create an online networking community solely dedicated to social change that provides a special environment conducive to involvement, along with unique tools necessary to increase a person's interest in service over time, while helping to bridge the gap between casual online recruitment and actual offline activism. That's a very powerful combination."

"If nonprofits and other groups want to appeal to the new generation of volunteers, new approaches like these will be needed compared to the strategies used in the past to motivate prior generations of Americans," said Paine.

Since 2003, MyGoodDeed.org has figured prominently in the discussion of how best to remember 9/11 and honor the victims, volunteers and rescue and recovery workers. In 2004, the group secured unanimous passage a Congressional Resolution (H. Con. Res. 473, co-sponsored by Senator Charles Schumer, D-NY, and Rep. Peter King, R-Long Island), urging the President of the United States to formally proclaim 9/11 as a national day of service. MyGoodDeed.org has since secured widespread support for its cause, including endorsements from virtually of the 9/11 family member and support groups, along with many prominent figures and organizations including U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham; actor Gary Sinise; former 9/11 Commission Chairman Thomas Kean; the White House Office of Volunteerism; President's Council on Service and Civic Participation; the Corporation for National and Community Service; ServiceNation; American Red Cross; Habitat for Humanity; Citizen Corps; Youth Service America; Points of Light/Hands On Network, and others.

In 2007, for the first time, President George Bush included specific references to volunteerism in his annual Proclamation in recognition of 9/11. This year, MyGoodDeed.org won the support of both Presidential candidates, who agreed to honor MyGoodDeed.org's request that they suspend campaigning and negative advertising on the anniversary of 9/11 terrorist attacks, this year and instead engage in voluntary service.

"We are delighted the leaders of both major political parties have mutually agreed to put aside their differences on 9/11 and engage in activities that promote unity and cooperation," said My GoodDeed.org vice president and co-founder Jay Winuk, who lost his brother Glenn J. Winuk, a rescue EMT on 9/11. "We call upon all political candidates involved in local, state and federal campaigns to follow that lead and abide by the 9/11 campaign moratorium."

9/11 Service Projects Planned

As part of its national program of encouraging individually sponsored service projects, MyGoodDeed.org this year will also be hosting its own service project on 9/11 in New York City, in conjunction with its partners New York Cares (http://www.nycares.org) and the ServiceNation Summit (http://www.servicenation.org). MyGoodDeed.org will be organizing literacy and library restoration projects at PS 124, a New York City elementary school located in lower Manhattan, and will be participating in other projects in the city as well.

MyGoodDeed.org also has provided DCR-SR45 Handycam camcorders donated by Sony Electronics to 25 Service Nation youth leaders from all around the country who will be participating in a three-month social experiment to document on video American's feelings about the role citizens should play in community service and what encourages them or discourages them from doing so. These "change agents" have been posting their video blogs weekly at MyGoodDeed.org as well as at ServiceNation.org. MyGoodDeed.org will provide a service leadership grant to the individual who delivers the more compelling video documentary.

About MyGoodDeed.org

MyGoodDeed.org, a 501c3 nonprofit, was founded in 2003 to encourage Americans and others to observe the September 11th anniversary of the terrorist attacks as a voluntary day of service, in honor of the 9/11 victims, volunteers and rescue and recovery workers. Last year more than a quarter of a million people posted good deeds on the organization's Website, http://www.MyGoodDeed.org encompassing all 50 states and 150 different countries and territories.

Organizations that have provided support this year to MyGoodDeed.org include American Express, Ambac Corporation, Sony Corporation, Keefe Bruyette and Woods, AOL, Google and Yahoo. For more information, visit http://www.myGoodDeed.org, http://www.myspace.com/mygooddeed or send an e-mail to info@MyGoodDeed.org.

Contact: Susan Roth

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              prsue@rothpr.com

SOURCE MyGoodDeed.org