| Doing good not necessarily about big numbers |
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Atlanta Business Chronicle - by Allison Shirreffs Contributing Writer Small and midsized businesses in the metro area have discovered that volunteerism isn't necessarily about big numbers; it's about how you deploy the numbers you have. And while company employees are doing good deeds, the company is getting something back -- a more satisfied employee, a positive vibe in the community, and a chance for employees of all levels of the company and from different departments to interact with each other outside of the office. "It helps us build teamwork here," said Cecilia Houston-Torrence, community involvement officer for the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, who oversees the bank's community service efforts. "And it helps employees become more balanced people." At the bank, each of the 320 employees are given paid time off -- three days per year -- to volunteer for the organization of their choice (as long as it files an IRS 501(c)(3) form). Although Georgia Natural Gas (GNG) doesn't formally designate days off, employees volunteer on an "as-needed basis," said Maurice Baker, manager of community relations. "Work comes first, but there are generous opportunities for [employees] to volunteer during the day." Several of GNG's 80 employees tutor at nearby Centennial Place Elementary School and others help out at Lutheran Towers senior living facility. Additionally, GNG volunteers man the Dogwood Festival each year. At the event, employees outfitted in GNG-logoed apparel interact with customers and the community. "It builds a bridge between the company, the organization and sponsorship," Baker said. "It's a win-win for everybody." At HRworks Inc., an Atlanta-based national recruitment firm with 150 employees, founder and President Kurt Ronn realized from the start that he wanted to create a culture that encouraged community involvement. He looked at major corporations and studied their best practices. He asked employees what cause they were passionate about. "I quickly found out that my causes weren't the same as everyone else's," he said. Knowing the company couldn't support every cause and have it be meaningful, he created CHARITYworks, an in-house vehicle whereby employees chose a different event or charity to support each month. Each year, a fixed amount of money is earmarked for the program. A team of employees, led by a chairperson and team captains, sets the agenda for the following year. HRworks' employees wanted to build a Habitat for Humanity house one month, but didn't have the $80,000 required to build a house on its own. But it was important to employees, so they came up with a plan to use $20,000 of the annual CHARITYworks budget on the house and set out to find other companies to partner with them and to pony up the rest of the money. CHARITYworks became a way for employees to take leadership roles. "You never know who can lead people or handle a budget," he said. "It gives people an opportunity to shine." Although the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta doesn't sell a product, it is strategic about its community involvement. Affordable housing, health care, the arts, and organizations such as the Atlanta Botanical Garden are high on the company's list. "It's not tied to marketing," Houston-Torrence noted. "We do it because it feels good." More than 50 percent of employees opt in when it comes to community service, and it gives them a chance to intermingle with leadership in a more casual setting and to network with folks from other organizations. "We have the buy-in from leadership," said Baker, adding that the community involvement helps recruit and retain employees. The same is true for your vendors, noted Ronn -- especially if they respect companywide efforts toward charity. "This isn't about adding X amount of dollars to our business," Ronn said. "Business is about building relationships. We all want to do business with people we have a relationship with." If you think your company is too small to make an impact, think again. Baker suggested staying focused on specific areas. He advised companies to reach out to national and regional organizations that can give you a template. "But the main thing is motivated employees," he added. |