Millions turn out for national Make A Difference Day

• Make A Difference Day is nation's largest day of service
• 3 million volunteers spent the day helping their communities
• Make A Difference Day was created by USA WEEKEND Magazine

Make A Difference Day made its mark on America on Saturday. And from an early morning mention on NBC's "Weekend Today" show to tweets from celebrities including Usher, Kevin Bacon and the stars of Radio Disney, millions of Americans came together in the nation's largest day of service.

"Make A Difference Day is about giving back to your community and serving others," said seven-time Grammy winner Usher, who promotes service through his New Look Foundation. "One voice joined by another is the start of a movement."

Those voices were heard coast-to-coast as an estimated 3 million volunteers spent the 22nd Make A Difference Day helping their communities in every way imaginable, from bowl-a-thons to beach cleanups. In Colorado, a moving van parked outside a Sam's Club was stuffed with donated food for military families. A Texas organization threw a fall carnival for children with special needs, while an Illinois animal hospital collected hundreds of pounds of food for a pet rescue for older animals. In Reno, Nev., Olympic mountain biker Katerina Nash helped out at a free youth cycling clinic. At Minnesota's Mall of America, stars from Radio Disney's "Next Big Thing" took part in a bullying prevention rally.

Make A Difference Day, created by USA WEEKEND Magazine and held in partnership with Points of Light on the fourth Saturday of each October, tracks the day's events at makeadifferenceday.com. All registered participants are eligible for $10,000 charitable awards from longtime sponsor Newman's Own. Those awards will be announced in April 2013 during National Volunteer Week.

National groups take broad action on one day

-- About 100 chapters of Golden Key collegiate honor society participated, from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, where a Cookies for Cats bake sale raised money for a cat shelter, to Ohio's Wright State University, where students helped run a fall festival at the YWCA in Dayton.

-- About 140 chapters of the Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity took action from Hawaii to Massachusetts, including almost 200 students who volunteered at Santa Claus Inc. in San Bernardino, Calif. The organization provides new clothes, books and toys to needy children at Christmas. "We're doing something small here, but with everyone coming together it's going to make a huge impact," said Eric Ortega, a Delta Sigma Pi member from University of California-Riverside.

-- Goodwill Industries International's multiple efforts included events in Roanoke, Va., where a community garden built by participants in a mentorship program for at-youth risk was dedicated, and Traverse City, Mich., where alumni of Michigan Tech University helped a homeless shelter prepare for winter. Vegetables from the garden will be donated to a residence for seniors and disabled people. "The pride on the kids' faces today as they stepped up to the podium -- that's what it's all about," said Kelly Coleman, director of marketing for Goodwill Industries of the Valleys.

-- An estimated 20,000 children at more than 100 different events — many sponsored by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America -- attended readings of author Nick Katsoris' "Loukoumi" book series, which teaches the importance of helping others; proceeds are donated to charity. The children signed pledges to do good deeds ranging from cleaning their rooms to feeding the homeless. "I wish Make A Difference Day was not just one day," said Katsoris. "I hope this feeling continues throughout the year with these kids."

Teens reach out, again and again

-- Several winners of Prudential's Spirit of Community Awards, which honors young people for outstanding volunteerism, joined Make A Difference Day. Their service, says awards executive director Greg Loder, inspires others to take action. "Kids look to kids for role models," he explained.

-- More than 70 volunteers traveled to the Cranston, R.I., home of Nicholas Lowinger, 14, to help distribute hundreds of pairs of new shoes Lowinger has collected for children in homeless shelters. "To be part of a day when there are so many people helping out in so many different ways across the United States is really inspiring," said Lowinger.

-- Anthony Frederick, 14, of Columbia, S.C., held two lemonade fundraisers/children's coat drives for his Kids Inspired by Cancer Kampaign, which promotes cancer awareness and inspires kids to give back to their communities.

-- Jordyn Schara, 17, of New Freedom, Wis., distributed comic books as part of her literacy promotion program, Comics for Change. "It's absolutely important for young people to be involved in their communities," she said.

-- In downtown Paducah, Ky., Meg Hancock, 14, organized a cleanup of the Ohio River waterfront. "It's really amazing to think there's tons of people my age and all other ages making a difference today," said Hancock.

Gannett shows it cares in 100 communities

Gannett Co. Inc., parent company of the day's creator, USA WEEKEND Magazine, mobilized employees in 100 communities it serves from Guam to California to its headquarters in Virginia.

-- In Annandale, Va., 120 volunteers, including USA TODAY, WUSA-TV and Gannett staff, donned matching T-shirts to work on classrooms and play areas at the ACCA Child Development Center, which serves disadvantaged children. "I can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday than doing projects in the communities we serve to help people who may not be as fortunate as we are," said Gannett CEO Gracia Martore.

-- In Jackson, Miss., employees of the Clarion-Ledger newspaper and their families volunteered at five different facilities run by Stewpot Community Services, including a soup kitchen and a battered women's shelter. "It's just a really really warming experience," said volunteer Netalia Bradley.

-- More than 20 employees of the Oshkosh, Wis., Northwestern newspaper pitched in to build shelves, help run an open house and prepare dinner at the Day by Day Warming Shelter, which serves the homeless during the winter months.

-- In Petal, Miss., volunteers from the Hattiesburg American newspaper joined with Habitat for Humanity to help construct a home for a needy local veteran.

-- Atlanta TV station WXIA 11Alive teamed up with Hands On Atlanta in 11 sites across the city, including building a community garden at a transitional housing development for the homeless and tutoring at a school for disadvantaged kids.

-- In Little Rock, Ark., TV station Today's THV sponsored three Make A Difference Day projects. As 30 volunteers braved the cold to help refurbish Baseline Elementary School in southwest Little Rock, school board member Norma Jean Johnson said, "This is just beautiful. I don't care what people say, there are people who actually care."