Gloria Osoba

Becoming an overnight celebrity wasn't exactly what Gloria Osoba had in mind when she visited VolunteerMatch.org on March 13. With just one click, she became the 4-millionth person to refer themselves to an opportunity.

For the past 11 years, VolunteerMatch has been helping volunteers and nonprofits connect. In reaching this milestone, we are thankful to have such an inspiring community of individuals who are passionate about making a difference. Your stories inspire us every day, and strengthen our commitment to service and supporting nonprofits.

Osoba, a graduate student in political science at the University of Utah, wanted to become more competitive in the job market that she'll soon be entering. With her sights on a position with the U.S. Department of State, she knew that the more international experience she had, the more qualified she would be.
 
And while she already had experience teaching English in the developing world, she wanted to work more in international relations, and saw an opportunity with the Council for Educational Travel USA (CETUSA) as a great way to build this knowledge-base.

"For me, this is a strategic decision," she said. "I've looked at all the jobs I want to do and they all require international experience. Getting those skills will open up a lot of job opportunities for me."

CETUSA was founded to help global citizens gain a better understanding of one another. Through programs to host international students in the United States, and assist American students with travel and study abroad, CETUSA aims to encourage a lifelong journey of global peace and understanding.

Volunteers with CETUSA welcome international students and orient them to communities all across the United States by matching them to host families, and organizing special events and outings.

A member of VolunteerMatch since 2006, the organization has had great success finding volunteers all over the country to help international students. Rick Anaya, Founder of CETUSA, credits this success to an increased interest in and need for global understanding. "The people I meet today want to know more about other cultures, and share the American culture with our international students."

While Osoba eventually decided that the opportunity with CETUSA was not for her, she did find something else with the Salt Lake Area Chapter of the American Red Cross.

"I'm excited about this opportunity because it enables me to improve on my talents as well as serve others," she said.

Of course, celebri-dom is about more than signing up. It's about caring to make a difference, and supporting your beliefs with actions. When you make a commitment to serve a cause that matters to you, you are pledging to do your part to change the world -- and here at VolunteerMatch, that makes you a superstar.

Show the world your star power. Start making a difference today.