PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla., April. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- A year ago at the
Presidents' Summit for America's Future, the call went out across the country
to increase the number of volunteers and volunteer hours devoted to youth.  A
year later, many companies, organizations and people have answered the call.
    An example of an outstanding volunteer in Florida is Palm Beach Gardens'
Siro DeGasperis, a retired UPS employee.

    -- In 1985, while serving as vice president for international and
       domestic public affairs at UPS, Siro DeGasperis sought a worthwhile
       cause or activity that would bring together UPS staff of all levels
       and encourage communication among employees. He learned about the
       Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) and the organization's annual
       Wheelchair Games and arranged for UPS to get involved on-site,
       providing employees to help run events, staff refreshment booths,
       etc.
    -- DeGasperis and his wife still volunteer at the games each summer,
       sponsoring the annual softball tournament, and provide financial
       support to the organization year-round.
    -- DeGasperis still helps coordinate UPS involvement in PVA
       activities.  UPS is now a corporate sponsor of the games.
    -- DeGasperis is also active within his community:

       - He served a three-year term as the president of the
         Communications Awareness Network in his community, monitoring
         environmental issues and legislation affecting Palm Beach
         Gardens.
       - Early in 1998, he was elected president of the property owner's
         association in his community, representing 13,000 people.
       - DeGasperis works on a committee that is developing Palm Beach
         Garden's Visionary Plan, setting civic, environmental and
         economic goals for the next 15 years.
       - DeGasperis serves as the chairperson of the fundraising
         committee for his church, currently heading an effort to raise
         money for construction of a new church building.

    Please call the listed contacts if you are interested in speaking
with DeGasperis or hearing about UPS' Neighbor-to-Neighbor Program,
which matches employees willing to volunteer with local agencies.
Also available is information on the results of a national survey on
volunteerism sponsored by The UPS Foundation.

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