Corporate responsibility and non-profits

As the holidays come upon us, it now feels like the season of giving.As my wife and I visit the stores in our community,we know that we soon will see the Salvation Army bell ringers and feel an overall sense of goodwill and holiday spirit.At the same time, I am also reminded that many organizations need help all year long, not just during November and December.

In addition to working for Granite Construction Co., I have also had the opportunity to volunteer and serve on the executive board of the Nevada Area Council, Boy Scouts of America.Volunteering and offering my time, talent, and treasure has been a very rewarding experience.

I have thoroughly enjoyed watching the Boy Scouting programs grow in our community.

Throughout the year, the Boy Scouts have had award dinners, a great

golf tournament, and recently the annual donor recognition dinner.At each of these events, I am reminded that corporate partners and citizens are essential to the success and growth of the non-profit agencies in our community.

This past year, as council president, I have worked with many great men and women of our community.

I have learned that each of us has a talent to share.Many of the board members of the Boy Scouts are also peers in our community.

They give back through donated time, services, and especially talent.

From charity to philanthropy to corporate responsibility What attracted me to the Boy Scouts is their overall mission to prepare young people for the future.

I feel that it is necessary to help prevent our youth from becoming a burden to society and give them the tools and skills necessary to contribute to their own lives and society as a whole.

I sincerely believe dollars invested today in our youth will make a

more significant impact than paying for rehabilitation services later.

In our community there are many great non-profits also providing preventive services and contributing to the overall well being of everyone in northern Nevada.

Over time,my involvement has evolved from simply giving money to help, to wanting to know how my money makes a difference, to being involved as a volunteer to stretch those dollars further to provide services.

In a book titled,"America's Voluntary Spirit" by Brian O'Connell, a reading selection from John D.

Rockefeller III discussed the necessity and importance of corporations and private citizens to volunteer and donate dollars to keep the non-profit sector viable and growing.

Rockefeller continued by illustrating the point that the non-profit sector fills in the gap left by both the government and private corporations.

The services provided by our local non-profits address additional vital and important issues, including youth character development, leadership training, and learning about service to others.

In addition, the cities look to other community agencies for help, realizing that not every need is met through tax dollars and government services.

There are some community programs that have addressed these issues, but the broad scope of serving all of northern Nevada has been best addressed by the Boy Scouts of America and their well established programs and volunteer base, and that is why they have my attention.

The necessity of voluntary service and donor dollars can best be illustrated by a common organization many of us know, our local house of worship.

The success of a religious organization is based on its volunteers to provide service in the areas of leading Bible study, providing music, elderly visitation services, and outreach ministries, among many others.

Secondly, through donations of those volunteers and members, the utilities, the buildings, and the professional staff are all supported.

As you can see, both volunteering and monetary donations are critical to the success of the religious sector, similarly in the non-profit

sector as well.

A call to service As we wind down this year and look to planning for next year, I challenge each of you to find a non-profit organization that matches the needs and values in your heart and/or the heart of your organization.You can first start out by setting aside some money in your charitable budget for them.

From there, choose an organization in which you can share your talents.Many of our professional talents and experiences can translate into valuable guidance for non-profit agencies.

Also, be sure to take an inventory of the organizations that your employees already support with their time and personal donations.

Imagine the corporate loyalty you will experience from your employees if your corporation directly supports their organizations.

If you do not have a charitable budget in your organization, think about your advertising budget.Many organizations have a great recognition plan for their donors and can include you in newsletters, annual reports, or as a table sponsor for a recognition dinner or event.

One of the Boy Scout professionals here recently shared a story with me.

He described a great corporate environment he experienced where each of the officers in the community bank had a role in the annual funding drive.

The bank president and senior vice president were in the Rotary, another VP was in the Lions, another in the Optimist Club, another in Sertoma, and the other was active in the Jaycees.

Each year, each officer of the bank utilized his or her contacts to secure donations for the annual funding drive, and each year the goal was reached because of the climate of corporate giving and volunteerism.

It started from the top down and the corporation's personal commitment to the community.

Many of our great community corporations have adopted a similar strategy and commitment to the community and the nonprofit sector.

Be sure not to say "No" for your employees or yourself.

Each of us is busy in our professional lives.

I have found that my volunteer time is just as rewarding as my professional time.

It has been worth it to make a difference for our community! Pat Kelly is operations manager of Granite Construction Co.