Timeraiser : Speed Dating for Volunteerism in Ottawa for the Second Year

Ever heard of Timeraiser? Part volunteer fair, silent art auction and night on the town, this innovative program helps busy socially and locally minded people to connect with causes they feel are important to them. Here's how it works :

Throughout the evening meet with different agencies and match your skills to their needs. Once you have made your matches, you are then eligible to bid on artwork. The big twist is rather than bidding money, you bid volunteer hours. If you have a winning bid, you have 12 months to complete your pledge before bringing the artwork home as a reminder of your goodwill.

This year, Ottawa Timeraiser will take place on Saturday, November 14, 2009 at the Canadian War Museum, 1 Vimy Place, 7:00 PM. Tickets are $20 (a 20 volunteer hours over a 12 month period pledge is recommended).

You can also preview the auctioned art here.

To date, Timeraisers across Canada have generated more than 50,000 volunteer hours, encouraged 5,000 Canadians to pick up a cause, invested $300,000 in the careers of Canadian artists and supported the efforts of more than 250 non-profit organizations. Other Canadian cities include Toronto, Vancouver, Hamilton and Calgary.

For more information contact Jen at jgrebel@timeraiser.ca or 1 (800) 263-1178 x232.