For Immediate Release:
June 9, 2016
Contact: Anna Adams-Sarthou

PHILADELPHIA 2016 HOST COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES SELECTION OF VOLUNTEER VETTING SERVICES FIRM

PHILADELPHIA, PA - The Philadelphia 2016 Host Committee for the Democratic National Convention today announced that it has selected Verified Volunteers to be its volunteer security vetting firm. Verified Volunteers will be responsible for conducting background checks for all volunteers registered to the Host Committee’s volunteer portal to help Philadelphia host the Convention this summer. Such background checks are commonplace for large-scale events like the Convention.

“Our volunteer effort is critical to a fun, safe, and successful Convention this summer, and the selection of Verified Volunteers brings us one step closer to that goal,” said Kevin Washo, Executive Director of the Philadelphia 2016 Host Committee. “Verified Volunteers will help ensure that our volunteers are able to assist us in making the Convention a positive and memorable experience.”

Verified Volunteers will be responsible for performing background checks, securely storing and transmitting sensitive data, and providing reports for the entire corps of volunteers.

Verified Volunteers was selected for its vast experience in volunteer screening, including being the exclusive provider of volunteer screening for the World Meeting of Families and Papal visit in Philadelphia last year. Verified Volunteers has worked with several national organizations such as the Girl Scouts, Feeding America, Meals on Wheels USA, and YMCA USA.

“We are extremely pleased to be partnering with the Philadelphia 2016 Host Committee to make screening DNC volunteers – with high-quality, affordable background checks – as easy and swift as possible,” said Katie Zewtzig, Executive Director of Verified Volunteers.  “We are thrilled to be part of the process to ensure a safe Convention and uphold our nation’s commitment to democracy.  Verified Volunteers is proud to be part of this effort.”

The Host Committee announced in May that it had recruited more than 16,000 volunteers, far exceeding its goal of 10,000.

Verified Volunteers was selected through a competitive RFP process, which began in April.

The Democratic National Convention will take place in Philadelphia July 25-28, 2016.

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