Toronto Volunteer Bridge is an organization of self-motivated individuals promoting volunteerism among young professionals, aged 23-35. Our goal is to increase volunteerism in Toronto linking busy young professionals with our non-profit, partner organizations, who understand our time constraints and abilities.

TVB was founded in 2003 by a group of young professionals who realized that they had something in common: they all wanted to lend a hand to the community around them were struggling to find volunteer opportunities that were both rewarding and fit their schedules.

Today, we work with a select group of partner organizations and have directed nearly 100 new volunteers to these organizations since we started. And did we mention we have great social events?

>Why TVB?

Did you know that volunteerism is decreasing? In 2000, only 27% of the population in Canada volunteered vs. 31% in 1997 -- a drop of more than one million volunteers.

25% of all volunteers contribute 73% of all volunteer hours. So charities and not-for-profit agencies are trying to do more with less every day. Only 24% of all 25-34 year-olds volunteered in 2000, down from 1997, and the lowest participation rate of any demographic under 65 years of age.

Young professionals don't volunteer. How many of the following clichés have you heard, or said yourself?

The Toronto Volunteer Bridge is working hard to stamp out the perceptions that we don't have enough time to help others in our community, and to help ourselves identify interesting opportunities to give back that don't conflict with our busy, unpredictable schedules. We're building a community of volunteers that realizes life is a lot better when you're doing more than just working, and that volunteering carries an abundance of personal rewards, such as meeting terrific people like yourself!