The On Your Side Volunteer Network matches associates with volunteer opportunities at local charities across the country COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Nationwide today launched the On Your Side Volunteer Network, an innovative new program that will help Nationwide associates search for volunteer opportunities at local charities that match their personal passions, skills and professional development objectives. The program will be a resource for more than 33,000 Nationwide associates across the country, with incentives like vacation time, grant money and internal recognition to encourage participation. "Based on the success of our pilot program, we're tremendously excited about the On Your Side Volunteer Network's potential to take Nationwide's already strong tradition of volunteerism to new levels," said Chad Jester, president of the Nationwide Foundation. The program was launched as a pilot for Nationwide's home office associates in 2005, and has already generated a significant increase in volunteer activity in Central Ohio. In the first eight months, Nationwide's Central Ohio associates logged nearly 8,000 volunteer hours through the On Your Side Volunteer Network, with new associates joining the Network every day. "We wanted to create a program that makes it easier for our associates to find volunteer opportunities, and provides an incentive for getting involved." Jester said. "Everyone is motivated by the opportunity to do good in the community, and our associates have been doing that for years. When you help them find time in their schedules, match their contribution of time with grant money, and give them professional development opportunities, it becomes an even easier decision to get involved." Components of the program include: - An on-line search tool that allows associates to search for volunteer opportunities that match their location, personal interest, skill sets and time available. - Program administrators help associates find volunteer activities that match specific professional development objectives. - The Nationwide Foundation provides $100 grants to qualified nonprofit organizations for each 25 hours of service contributed by a Nationwide associate through the On Your Side Volunteer Network. - Associates can earn a half-day of paid time off for each 25 hours of community service, or for giving blood. Associates can earn up to 2 full vacation days a year through volunteerism. - Nationwide has introduced the Volunteer of the Year award which will be given to an outstanding On Your Side Volunteer Network participant. "We need nonprofit organizations to let us know how we can help so we can share that information with our 33,000 associates." Jester said. "They can do that by going to volunteermatch.org." Nationwide is partnering with VolunteerMatch, a national web-based nonprofit organization that helps individuals find local volunteer opportunities. Nonprofit organizations looking for volunteers can make opportunities available to Nationwide associates and others through volunteermatch.org. Anyone can go to the web site to search for opportunities to volunteer. The Nationwide Foundation is an independent corporation funded by contributions from Nationwide companies. Since 1959, the Nationwide Foundation has worked to positively affect the quality of life in communities where Nationwide associates, agents and their families live and work. Nationwide, based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the world, with more than $158 billion in assets. Nationwide ranks #98 on the Fortune 100 list. The company provides a full range of insurance and financial services, including auto, motorcycles, boats, homeowners, life, commercial insurance, administrative services, annuities, mortgages, mutual funds, pensions and long-term savings plans. The Nationwide companies include the country's seventh-largest property/casualty, the fourth-largest homeowners, the sixth- largest auto insurance group and the country's largest farm owners insurer. Nationwide Life Insurance Company, the major subsidiary of Nationwide Financial, ranks 11th in assets according to A.M. Best. For more information, visit http://www.nationwide.com/. Nationwide and the Nationwide Framemark are federally registered service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. On Your Side is a service mark of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. Contact: Mike Switzer (614) 249-4092 DATASOURCE: Nationwide CONTACT: Mike Switzer of Nationwide, +1-614-249-4092, or Web site: http://www.nationwidefinancial.com/ http://www.volunteermatch.org/

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