Twenty years ago, the serious social issues facing New York City had reached critical levels. In 1987, a group of friends got together and said, "There MUST be something we can do to help." When they tried to volunteer their time, they were often told, "Thanks for your interest, but we don't have a volunteer program." Many of the social service agencies which so desperately needed their help simply did not have the resources to bring in and manage volunteers. But the friends weren't deterred, and after continuing to search in vain for a way to make a difference, they set up their own organization - New York Cares.

The model of volunteering they created was so successful that it sparked a national movement. Today, New York Cares is the model for the Hands On Network, a growing network of 64 affiliated volunteer organizations in the United States and around the world that have adopted our unique approach to volunteering.