Encouraging Volunteerism

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If you want to get your company involved in your community but either can't afford cashdonations or want to give something that won't be forgotten as easily, think about giving employees time off to do volunteer work. Clay Teramo isone of many company owners who's done it. Even when his company, Computer Media Technology, in Sunnyvale, Calif., was just a $2.7-million businesswith 13 employees, people were taking paid time off to volunteer. The company averaged about one person for one afternoon a week.

For people who didn't have a favorite charity, the company posted a list of local organizations, such as a soup kitchen and a home for the elderly, with a noteasking for advance notice if they want to help out. "We don't want to just give our money away," says Teramo. "And that would miss out on the intangiblerewards anyway. Volunteering helps keep work from becoming a grind." He gives some of his time himself to charitable fund raising, providing sales andmarketing help.

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