Michael P. Cronin

Volunteering Your Company

Company allows employees to do volunteer work on company time instead of making donations.

 

In its early days Telephone Express supported its community the old-fashioned way: the owners chose a charity and made a donation. But employees didn't merely ignore such altruism; they resented it, wondering why the money hadn't gone into their paychecks instead.

The $23-million Colorado Springs, Colo., regional long-distance carrier got the message: employees won't share the spirit if they aren't invited to. Now six employee volunteers disburse donations -- $35,000 last year. And Telephone Express tries to involve all employees -- for instance, allowing them to volunteer at United Way organizations on company time. Cofounder Mary Beazley says community volunteer work raises a small company's profile and instills pride in employees.

Organizations in many cities help companies like Telephone Express to volunteer. City Cares of America (CCA) is a network of more than a dozen such organizations, including L.A. Works, Hands On Atlanta, and New York Cares.

CCA volunteers attend an orientation session, and then get a monthly calendar of local community-service projects. They sign up whenever it's convenient; there's no minimum participation. Projects include food-bank staffing, park cleanup, and assisting at-risk youth. CCA can put you in touch with local organizations; to contact it call 202-887-0500. Or call Hands On Atlanta, 404-872-2252, which is well connected with its counterparts across the country.

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