5.29.2007 - 02:00pm ET

(CSRwire) May 29, 2007 - University of Phoenix has selected VolunteerMatch to help engage its employees in volunteer service. As VolunteerMatch offers the most active volunteer network available, this historic partnership is a call to action that enables University of Phoenix to make lasting contributions to the communities it serves across the country and the globe.

With VolunteerMatch, University of Phoenix employees may now search and sign up for over 40,000 volunteer opportunities available through VolunteerMatch via the University's web site and match themselves to preferred opportunities by ZIP code, personal interests and skills. To date, volunteers have made nearly three million matches to nonprofits through VolunteerMatch.

"At the University of Phoenix, we recognize that our commitment to the community extends beyond the work we do in the classroom," said Bill Pepicello, president of University of Phoenix. "VolunteerMatch helps us inspire others to connect to the community, making this partnership a pivotal step in our growth as a company and as a responsible corporate citizen."

The community giving strategy at the University focuses on supporting local community initiatives and being an advocate for education. Over the years, the University has worked hard to contribute to the communities in which it does business. In fact, in recent years University of Phoenix has developed a variety of full-tuition scholarship programs designed to assist youth and individuals traditionally left out of the higher education mix. VolunteerMatch will provide the University with the opportunity to further inspire employee volunteers and promote volunteer projects.

"University of Phoenix's commitment to community is exemplary, and we're proud to be partnering with an institution that has such a longstanding and deeply rooted history of volunteer service," said Greg Baldwin, president of VolunteerMatch.

University of Phoenix launched VolunteerMatch company-wide on April 16, 2007, and after just one month over 5,000 University of Phoenix employees have activated their personal accounts, logged over 1,500 hours of community service and signed up for over 600 volunteer opportunities through the University of Phoenix/VolunteerMatch web site.

"The response has been astounding, and employee feedback has been overwhelmingly positive," said Pepicello.

For more information, visit www.VolunteerMatch.org.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help students to balance education and life in a rapidly changing world. Through flexible schedules, challenging courses and interactive learning, students can achieve their academic goals without putting their lives on hold. As of May 31, 2006, more than 323,000 students were enrolled at Apollo Group institutions, which include University of Phoenix, the largest private university in North America. University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering associates, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs from more than 190 campuses and learning centers in the U.S. as well as online throughout the world.

About VolunteerMatch

VolunteerMatch is where volunteering begins, enabling anyone to find local nonprofits by ZIP code, get involved based on skills and interests, and support a community network of individuals, charitable organizations, and socially responsible businesses committed to civic engagement. Since 1998, VolunteerMatch has helped volunteers make three million matches to more than 47,000 nonprofits throughout the United States, earning the national nonprofit worldwide acclaim, two Webby Awards, and recognition from The White House. Make a difference today at www.VolunteerMatch.org.

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