"It's that time of year again. The hustle bustle of finding the perfect gift, navigating the holiday traffic, celebrating with family and decorating for the season is upon us. However, the spirit of the holidays spreads beyond our personal lives and into the realm of our workday. While most companies are compiling a Christmas card list and deciding which clients get a fruit basket, some local businesses are making a special effort to give back to their community.
In lieu of sending their traditional Christmas cookies to clients and business partners, Benefit Insurance Marketing decided to take a more philanthropic approach. They assembled a task force to decide where the money normally spent on gifts could be put to better use. After taking suggestions of nonprofits that had personally touched the lives of their 27 employees, the company chose to split the money between four local organizations: Center for Women, Children and Families; American Cancer Society; Hope Center and Hospice of the Bluegrass.
Jeri Tackett, director of operations for the benefits planning firm, said, "We wanted to touch the lives of people who had made an impact on our lives." This year, the recipients of Christmas cards from the company will see the names and logos of the four charities and know that Benefit gave back to their community. But the firm did not stop there.
The task force also decided to support Toys for Tots. Employees brought new toys to their Thanksgiving celebration. They are also encouraging guests of an upcoming open house for their clients to donate an item to help ensure children receive a toy for Christmas.
Because they could not give money to every worthy organization in the community, Benefit Insurance Marketing is going to carry the spirit of giving back throughout the new year. Tackett said the staff was going to provide "sweat equity" in the form of volunteering to other nonprofits in 2007. The firm promotes community involvement by allowing their employees three paid days to volunteer for the cause of their choice.
Benefit Insurance Marketing is a great example of how businesses can incorporate the holidays into the workplace while making a positive impact in their community, but they are not the only ones giving back this season.
Lt. John Oliver said that the Firefighter Toy Program depends on its corporate sponsors for a variety of things in order to make it successful. For example, Cingular provides three of the firefighters with cell phones so that they can communicate with one another regarding the local toy program. Meijer provides gift cards so the Fraternal Order of Firefighters can purchase toys at their stores. These and other sponsors enable the program to provide a toy store for parents to choose toys for their children who may not otherwise receive gifts this year.
Whether through an organized holiday event like the Firefighter Toy Program, or as a corporate Christmas gift to local nonprofits, like the Benefit Insurance Marketing example, there are many ways to give back to the community this holiday season. Some businesses serve as drop-off points for holiday donations, like Bank of the Bluegrass for the Firefighter Toy Program. Others run food drives among their employees, such as the downtown Chase Bank location. Regardless of the size or mission of your business, there are many ways to help.
United Way of the Bluegrass has made it easy to access local holiday volunteering and giving opportunities by compiling Be a Hero: Help Make Holiday Wishes Come True. This guide to holiday sharing and volunteering in Central Kentucky provides a listing of holiday programs, ranging from AIDS Volunteers, Inc. (AVOL) to YMCA of Central Kentucky, that spread cheer to people in need this season. A description of volunteer opportunities and requested items for donation are printed along with contact information for the organizations involved. This guide is available at www.VolunteerBluegrass.org or by calling (859) 233-4460.
"