Providing social services with corporate volunteers

Abstract

Small businesses have long been known for generosity within their local communities. But corporate philanthropy is becoming more and more prevalent in our culture, and big corporations are making their own impact on service. Increasingly, companies are seeing opportunities—and in some instances, pressures—from a variety of sources to offer more diverse and sophisticated volunteer programs. One large company recruits senior level management to act as interns in neighborhoods where social issues are vivid and inescapable.

Issue

Making community service more prominent in the culture of corporate America, and awakening senior level management to the social issues impacting America's work force, is a goal that corresponds with a call to service for all Americans.

Action

Different companies offer a variety of volunteering programming efforts. Effective practices in three large companies include:

UPS

At UPS, the Community Internship Program (CIP) is an intense management training course designed to immerse senior level executives in the community.
The CIP program requires participants to leave their homes and families for a month to complete hands-on community service at a distant location.Each summer two successive groups of UPS interns live at the Henry Street Settlement on Manhattan's Lower East Side. At Henry Street's Workforce Development Center they coach groups of young adults on such issues as preparing for job interviews, appropriate work attire, common interview questions, and proper budget management.Interns also shadow social workers as they visit elderly clients who receive help from Henry Street. Interns may help with delivering meals and performing housekeeping duties.
At the Recycle-A-Bicycle Shop, a bicycling recycling shop and job-training center in Brooklyn, UPS managers work on plans to keep track of inventory by putting bar codes on donated bike parts.
At the Urban Family Center and Helen's House—temporary shelters for homeless families—and at the Third Street Women's Residence and the Shelter for Battered Women, interns spend their days helping out with the children in day care, and reading and interacting with them in positive ways, such as taking them to the park or singing songs with them.
Other experiences interns in New York might have include spending time at a Catholic soup kitchen or visiting Sing Sing prison to talk to inmates about society and personal change.
Interns include journal writing and discussions at the end of the day or after key events in order to get the most out of their experiences, set goals and measure progress.
In Tennessee, UPS interns have prepared and served food to the city's homeless, rode buses with Head Start children, took physically challenged individuals on a bowling excursion, and talked to inmates at Walker State Prison. Interns also saw police make initial stops and arrests, and followed cases through to the courts system.

Standard Insurance Company

At this insurance company in Portland Oregon, employees read with two children for half an hour each week during the school year through the SMART (Start Making A Reader Today) program.
Standard Insurance has also partnered with the Open Meadow Alternative School under a Portland City program that matches businesses with schools to leverage assets. The company donated more than 130 computers to the school, which serves thirteen to eighteen year olds who struggle in traditional schools. School staff took part in company training programs on customer service and leadership. And Standard employees assisted students with job-readiness skills by conducting mock interviews and resume writing classes. The company also offers students paid internships.
Additionally, the Standard's "Dollars for Doers" program encourages employees to donate time and money to local nonprofits. In San Diego, California, Standard gave a grant to the Enlisted Wives Club of Southern California, which supports military families through donations of food, gasoline and sports equipment, as well as organized activities like bowling and movie nights.

Combe Inc.

This personal care products company in White Plains, New York, took action after learning that donations to the United Way had fallen. Combe encourages volunteerism by annually awarding an employee it feels has done the most for the community. The employee receives $1,000.00 to give to whatever community service organization he or she chooses. Combe employees have given their time and resources to many organizations, including the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and local chapters of the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross

In addition, Combe closes its headquarters one day each spring so its approximately 200 employees can participate with the YMCA/Camp Combe in Putnam Valley, Connecticut, to help build, fix and/or clean up the camp. This effort has been ongoing since 2000 when the company helped the YMCA of Central and Northern Westchester purchase an eighty-acre summer camp. Although the camp had been neglected for years, employees rehabilitated the grounds, building basketball courts, picnic tables, and a 330-foot boardwalk over a wetland area. In 2003, employees built a retaining wall, and demolished and removed an abandoned house on the property.

Context

The UPS Community Internship Program was founded in 1968 and takes place annually in New York, Tennessee and Texas. Each year UPS chooses forty to fifty managers for the program, matching them with urban or rural sites. Participation in the CIP program is by selection only and although the majority of UPS executives only contribute once, some say they would like to intern on a subsequent occasion.

Outcome

The Community Internship Program is designed to make more well-rounded managers by keeping them sensitive to the needs of the workforce. Learning about the challenges many employees face can make better managers. Better managers attract more employees, which is central to good business practices.
After going through the CIP program, one manager took her employees to a food bank for a day of sorting to teach teamwork.
Some interns are so moved by their experiences that they return to volunteer again.
Because assignments in the nonprofit context are focused on the goal of helping people, there is a different perspective than the one that people in corporations can fall into, where they may be driven by the bottom line.
Managers learn firsthand about diversity of their communities and potential employees.
Volunteers have to learn how to communicate in different ways and develop new ways of solving problems.
Participating in volunteer projects helps brings a sense of togetherness and unity.
Coaching by UPS interns has tangible benefits for "graduates," since many of them apply for entry-level jobs with the shipping company.

Evidence

One intern said, "I think it has affected me as an individual, as a parent, definitely in the sense of exhibiting more patience with my children and understanding things could be much worse. It makes you appreciate what you have...and you appreciate the teachers who spend their lives helping children like that."
Assistant Vice-President of Standard Insurance, Kira Higgs, says "there's a recognition that when you support a strong community, it's not only good for your business, but it's good for all the businesses in that community.

Posted On

August 18, 2004

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