(Originally published in the April issue of Corporate Philanthropy Report, available online to current subscribers at publication.)
In recognition of International Corporate Philanthropy Day, it is becoming ever more common for companies to launch new initiatives aimed at bolstering their community investments. This year was no different, as ICPD—which took place February 27—brought out numerous announcements from attendees at the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy’s annual Board of Boards CEO Conference, which convened some 80 CEOs from leading global corporations for a series of meetings and workshops aimed at raising the level and quality of corporate philanthropy.
Coinciding with the event, many CECP member companies announced new initiatives, as well as expansions of current programs, including:
• Meritor Inc. Meritor is a global provider of drivetrain, mobility, braking and aftermarket solutions for the commercial vehicle and industrial markets. The company has a tradition of social responsibility and investment in the communities where its employees live and work, with employee volunteerism serving as a core component of its community support. Meritor is preparing to take these efforts to a new level in 2012. The company announced a new volunteerism program called the Power of Volunteering, which includes an ambitious target of reaching 40,000 hours per year of employee volunteer activities by 2020. To support employees in meeting the goal, the company is using a web-based tool allowing employees to track their hours through VolunteerMatch.
• Moody’s Corp. Moody’s plans many events and programs around ICPD. For example, the company’s CEO, Ray McDaniel, sends out an e-mail to all of Moody’s offices worldwide recognizing all of the employees who participated in company-sponsored volunteer programs the previous year. Employee volunteers also receive a personal letter of thanks from McDaniel and Fran Laserson, president of the Moody’s Foundation. This year, the company announced a new program that puts the skills of Moody’s employees to use in the service of aspiring job applicants. Dubbed Moody’s Interview University, the program will provide mock interviews for students, Moody’s Foundation grantees and community partners, with Moody’s employees playing the role of interviewer.
• Samsung. This year, in celebration of ICPD, Samsung donated its sixth assistance dog to a school in the United States with the help of the National Education for Assistance Dog Services. Samsung teamed with NEADS to pair an assistance dog with the winning school of the company’s Solve for Tomorrow essay contest, which asked teachers and students to describe how math and science could help improve the environment in their communities.
The company sought to raise awareness among its employees about its partnership with NEADS and the benefits these dogs bring to children and adults with disabilities. As part of that effort, Samsung employees were invited to a workshop series where they heard from NEADS director John Moon, as well as a local war veteran and her assistance dog. Moon and his guest led a discussion with employees on the benefits of service dogs and explored volunteer opportunities.
• State Farm. State Farm took the opportunity on ICPD to launch a new grant program open to communities across the country. The new program is part of the company’s Youth Advisory Board initiative, which allows youth to play a role in improving student achievement in public education by funding student service-learning programs. According to the company, the new grant opportunity will reach a broader audience and provide an opportunity for community members to raise awareness of issues in their neighborhoods. The $25,000 grants will be awarded based upon the input of community members from across the country.
• Western Union. In recognition of ICPD, Western Union announced a suite of new services developed specifically for nonprofit organizations. The new options, available worldwide, will simplify how these organizations collect and move money, cutting their costs and enabling them to focus fewer resources on administration and more on their key missions, the company said.
The new services include specifically designed software to help nonprofits collect and move money more efficiently. By eliminating financial intermediaries and reducing the number of currency conversions through a “point-to-point” offering, complexity will be reduced and money will move faster, the company said.
To see what other companies did to celebrate ICPD, visit the CECP website at www.corporatephilanthropy.org.
In recognition of International Corporate Philanthropy Day, it is becoming ever more common for companies to launch new initiatives aimed at bolstering their community investments. This year was no different, as ICPD—which took place February 27—brought out numerous announcements from attendees at the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy’s annual Board of Boards CEO Conference, which convened some 80 CEOs from leading global corporations for a series of meetings and workshops aimed at raising the level and quality of corporate philanthropy.