Pay it “spring” forward….

We were recently asked how we were first inspired to provide community service activities for our client programs. For us, it was one event that sparked our interest in developing give-back activities and now, nearly 15 years later, we have found these to be some of the most rewarding and memorable experiences for our clients.

In 1989 we had an opportunity to orchestrate an extraordinary community service project for GE Plastics. During their visit to San Diego, they had five groups, varying in size from 100 – 700 people. Their goal was to design and implement community-based projects for each group that would make a lasting impact. They titled this effort “Share to Gain” and it was the most inspiring project I had ever seen. Our company helped GE Plastics identify the potential projects, partner in the logistical coordination and preparation of the facilities, and re-locate the children and adults in the various facilities for 1 – 2 days so that the work could be accomplished. We enlisted our staff and vendors to donate time and resources to maximize the benefit of this day.

Being a part of this project and helping to support the success of this effort created an awareness that everyone involved could benefit from these types of projects. Since then, we have developed programs of various proportion and focus that offers a community service aspect.

I think the most important thing to remember is that there are so many opportunities for companies to incorporate a give-back event into their program. Even if it is just one element of the event that is transferable to benefit the local community, that effort can make an impact. A give-back can range from the centerpieces that are donated to local hospitals; food that is donated to a local Food Bank following an event; an afternoon that is sponsored and supported at a local attraction for families in need; to a team building event that requires assembling or creating a product that is donated to local charities.

From all of these activities, it has become obvious that so much could be accomplished – not perhaps on the scale of our inaugural project, but day-by-day and group by group.