A Final Word on Corporate Giving
It has been a while since I wrote about corporate giving. I intended to follow up right away with more information on what I think and what some of our clients have experienced.
It was quite hard to come back to this topic. Many of our friends and clients know that Glenn Gleason, Allen’s brother in law, recently passed away. Part of my thoughts with corporate giving were tied closely into Glenn’s situation, spirit and the way he gracefully led the charge in raising funds and awareness for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
That being said I would like to finish this series, it has just taken me a while to be able to articulate my thoughts and feelings.
One thing that happened after Glenn’s passing is that we had a quick and very informal staff meeting to figure out what we were going to do for Allen, Glenn and their families. What we decided was that they had the infrastructure to get arrangements made, children picked up from school and making sure that every one was fed. There was nothing that we could really do without inserting ourselves into an already well orchestrated situation.
So what we decided to do was to donate to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. It was a very quick and real way for us to feel as if we had done something. As if we participated in helping without getting in the way of Glenn’s family and friends.
A few years ago when my father passed away the staff at The Payroll Factory® was very helpful and caring. I was allowed to work when I could and to feel as if I had a place to come that was structured and welcoming away from the details of what needed to take place with my family. At that time the staff got together and made a donation in my father’s name to my son’s school for children with autism. It was a difficult time, and yet by simply being caring and showing such thoughtfulness in their donation I felt supported and cared for by the people that I work with. Those types of things go a long way toward team work and employee retention. I certainly know that I felt a sense of community and loyalty to my company during that difficult time that still resonates with me today.
While this series of blogs has taken a serious turn, I wanted to illustrate how important giving can be. When we do it as a company it really takes on even more importance somehow. It can show the true colors of an organization and its employees in time of strife. It can show continued dedication to our community. It can lead by example.
A lot of our clients are already involved in corporate giving. We see companies that have payroll deductions taken each payroll for things like United Way and other charities that are corporate sponsored.
As the holiday season approaches perhaps you can think of ways that your company can give back to the community. Either by donations of money or of donations of time. Either way giving can have a wonderful effect. It lets people feel involved when they give. It lets people feel understood and cared for when they receive.
Submitted by:
Meg Eynon, Vice President
