SEPTEMBER 2014
3
business
solutions
Lend a hand to help your community and your business
Corporate
Volunteerism
Pays Off
S
tudies have shown that individuals enjoy improved physical and mental health when
they volunteer time for a good cause. But can corporate volunteerism have a positive
impact on the health of your business as well? According to volunteermatch.org, a
website that helps match volunteers with needs in their communities, companies of all sizes
may enjoy key advantages including:
•
Improved morale and team building.
When teams volunteer together on a project out-
side the office, they forge stronger relationships and feel good about doing something
meaningful.
•
Ongoing learning.
Many volunteers pick up skills they might not have learned in
their normal work environment.
•
A broader customer base.
Many young Americans trust a company more if it is socially
and/or environmentally responsible. Likewise, theywill paymore attention to a company’s
message if they find that the company is committed to a cause.
If you’ve considered giving your employees time to do volunteer work, here are
suggestions for getting started:
•
Assess employee interests, business objectives, and community needs.
Checkwith the
local Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis clubs, Lions clubs, or other community groups to find
volunteer opportunities.
•
Pick a project.
Focus on a project that utilizes the services and products you provide for
your customers. For instance, a landscaper may choose to create a garden at a local school.
•
Encourage employee involvement.
Present volunteer opportunities to employees and
showhow they fit into your business’ commitment to social responsibility.
•
Track your progress.
Just like a sales goal, it’s important tomake sure that your volunteer
efforts are paying off. Success could bemeasured by anything from improved employee
attitudes to increased publicity for those you’re helping.
BLUE VALLEY’S
VOLUNTEERISM
Blue Valley invests numerous volunteer
hours and thousands of dollars in dona-
tions each year to the communities it
serves. Here are just a few examples of
our efforts:
• Deliver Meals on Wheels twice a
month to the elderly.
• Host two blood drives annually in part-
nership with the American Red Cross.
• Serve as committee and board mem-
bers for numerous nonprofit and
local organizations, including: City
Councils, County Economic Develop-
ment groups, Knights of Columbus,
Trail Life USA, Booster Clubs, Marshall
County Travel & Tourism, Relay for Life,
American Legion, Chambers of Com-
merce, Marysville Main Street, Kiwanis
Club, Rotary International, Volunteer
Fire Departments, School Boards, and
County Rodeos.
• Participate in community parades,
festivals, fairs, and more.
• Host the annual Blue Valley Giving
Tree project, which provides Christmas
gifts to nearly 400 less fortunate local
families.
• Provide area students $16,000 in
scholarship dollars for continuing
education.
• Developed a career fair specifically for
junior high students, featuring local
employers.
BVTC employees, Buster Schmitz (left) and
Jodi Samuelson enjoy serving at a customer
appreciation dinner.
