With the holiday season upon us, what better way to spread the giving spirit and holiday cheer than to give back to your local community? I am fortunate to work for a company that embraces community involvement. BrownFlynn integrates volunteerism into our business and culture by generously offering each employee 40 hours of paid volunteer time annually, including community involvement in performance reviews, and sponsoring company volunteer efforts. This is a common trend among companies aspiring to be top places to work, as people seek to work for companies that have volunteer opportunities or other corporate responsibility efforts. In addition, volunteerism boosts employee morale and pride. Below are some highlights of BrownFlynn employee volunteer activities this holiday season:
- American Red Cross Blood Services, Northern Ohio Region: Principal & Co-Owner Margie Flynn chairs the Board of Directors to help increase the number of corporate and organizational sponsors of blood drives in Northern Ohio. During the holiday season, the need for blood is greater when schools are closed. Therefore, this holiday season, the American Red Cross Board is sponsoring a blood drive to help support the demand for blood. If you are in or near Cleveland, Ohio, and eligible to donate blood, please come to the Board Blood Drive on Thursday, January 16, from 12:00-6:00pm at the Euclid Avenue Congregational Church (log on to www.redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code: eacc). As you are making your list of New Year’s resolutions, add blood donation to the list. Margie “feels gratification in knowing that thousands of lives are saved by recruiting more blood donors; it’s a lifesaving mission.”
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland: Associate Consultant Marissa Beechuk has been a Big Sister for Jalacia, a high school sophomore, for the past three years. They spend timetogether doing fun activities like going to the movies, visiting parts of Cleveland that Jalacia has never been to, going to the lake during the summer, going to Cavaliers games and Indians games, etc. . Marissa tries to be a positive influence and role model to Jalacia. She says she enjoys being a big sister because “Jalacia can talk to [her] about things she might not be able to talk about with her parents” and she can “discuss with Jalacia her goals and aspirations for the future and how I can help her achieve these things.”
- Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad Polar Express: Analyst Brittany VanderBeek volunteered on the Polar Express as an elf reader, where she read the Polar Express story, sang Christmas songs and led pajama fashion shows and other contests with families in Northeast Ohio as the train traveled to the North Pole. Brittany described that “the magic of Christmas has a whole new meaning to [her] after volunteering on the Polar Express. It was so rewarding to spread the holiday cheer with the community and watch kids and families light up as I read the Polar Express story and sang songs!”
- Girl Scouts of Aurora, Ohio Holiday Food Baskets for Aurora Families in Need: Senior Design Consultant Jennifer Griffith made holiday food baskets with her daughter’s Girl Scouts troop. Jennifer described that “making these baskets gave [her] a new realization that we often take meals for granted every night when there are so many people that go without food and are hungry. The holidays are for family time and when you’re concerned about what you’re going to eat, that takes away from the joyous time with family.”
- GreenCityBlueLake Institute: Senior Consultant Andrew Watterson volunteers on the Steering Committee and Principal & Co-Owner Margie Flynn serves on the Community Advisory Team. The Institute is the sustainability center of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and is working to transform Northeast Ohio into an area where “urbanization can work with nature.” Andrew enjoys volunteering to “help them further their mission and shape how they can be most effective in their efforts to educate and engage the community around sustainability.”
- Neighborhood Alliance Christmas for Caring Program: BrownFlynn matched employee contributions dollar for dollar to donate two family care baskets to the Neighborhood Alliance for families in need. The Neighborhood Alliance helps our community grow stronger by caring for our clients’ most basic needs. Senior Consultant Jennifer Andress delivered the baskets and described that “it was wonderful to see how many people took the time to give to those in need. There were donations all around [her]. And yet I couldn’t help but to think that these resources we were providing would only last for so long. I left being reminded how important it is to give our time, talents and contributions to those in need all year long.”
- Super Heroes to Kids in Ohio: Analyst Emily Bryant volunteers three times per month by visiting children that are battling adversity (mental disability or illness) at children’s hospitals, special needs centers or charity events. The goal is to make children smile and forget that they are ill. The volunteers give the children certificates for being super heroes, powering through adversity and inspiring others along the way. Emily describes that the children she works with are “an infinite source of inspiration and a true testament to the spirit of perseverance” and she believes it is a “privilege to use [her] personal experience with adversity to bring comfort and happiness to others, even if only for a brief moment.”
As you reflect this season on all that your employees and communities have given to you throughout the year, the holiday season is an opportunity for your company to give back as well. Whether your company donates time or treasure, you can have a meaningful impact on your community by engaging in local volunteer efforts.
By Brittany VanderBeek, Analyst
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