How to engage your co-workers in volunteering

Engaging Your Disengaged Corporate Volunteers Posted by: Katie Sisum, Event360, December 2011 We’ve all seen it time and time again: the loose change collection jar or the dollar treats in the break room with a “support our charity walk team” sign. We feel good by giving back, and we also feel like we are doing something for our workplace. But donating a dollar only goes so far – how do you make the leap and ask your employees to volunteer an afternoon or even a whole day? Corporate volunteerism takes a lot of time, effort and several resources, there’s no doubt about it. But what could be better PR than a group of 10 of your employees sporting their red “Bank of America” t-shirts and volunteering at a pit stop5K race where 10,000 people will see them? Sounds like a no-brainer to me. Here are a few tips in engaging your co-workers and asking them for their commitment. Ask your corporation to sponsor a group to attend, perhaps this is corporate shirts, or a free day off, utilize what your business does best in your ask for support. Make your ask personal and widespread. Instead of just asking a handful of co-workers in your department for their support, expand your circle. Reach out to other colleagues who work in other offices or departments and tell them why they should care about this cause.   Ask for their support at least a month out so people can get it on their calendar. Schedules fill up quickly, and you want your event to take priority. Make it easy in terms of logistics. Talk to HR about how to take the day off, and plan transportation and food ahead of time. You want to make the experience as simple as possible for the people who are supporting your cause. Engage your co-workers in a heartfelt info blast before the event. Whether it’s a video in the break room or a personal email telling the story of someone you know affected where your cause helped, reassure your colleagues that they are doing the right thing by supporting this cause. You want them to feel the power of their commitment. Engaging your co-workers can be a challenge. Expect some of their commitments to change, and realize that some of your team might back out before your event. Don’t be discouraged by this shift. Move on and focus on finding and engaging more people. Lastly, have fun with your colleagues and enjoy the event that is supporting the cause that you feel passionate about!

Redbox Company Gets It

Redbox (you know, the company with the red automated boxes filled with movies and video games at your local grocery stores, McDonalds, and drug stores) gets it.  They get how to make a difference in the lives of Chicago children.

Recently, the Redbox employees volunteered their time to organize a day the students of John Barry Elementary will never forget.  They rented out a theater, welcomed the students with high-fives and cheers, played ice-breakers, showed the movie Polar Express, and gave out snacks at the concession stand.  Pretty neat, huh?

But wait there is more.  During intermission, they set up the lobby with holiday themed games and fun prizes.  At the end of the day, they sent the kids home with goody bags.  All day, the employees hung out and got to know the students.

Wow, what great role models for not only the students, but all of us.  What a cleaver and creative volunteer event.  What an amazing company.  Blockbuster and Netflix: take notice.

Please support those who make a difference in our community - Redbox.

Catching the Polar Express with Redbox and Barry Students by chicagocares

On December 14, 48 volunteers from Redbox joined Chicago Cares to give students at John Barry Elementary school a very special holiday afternoon at the movies!

John Barry Elementary is one of the neighborhood schools located in the Hermosa community. The school facility serves 796 students Pre-K through 6th grade. 95% of the student body is Hispanic and 3.2% is African American, and 92% come from low-income households. Recently Barry was appointed a new Principal, Estuardo Mazin, who has stepped into a position that was held by an interim Principal for four years. With a permanent Principal, the school will have more stability and can develop its long-term goals. The dedicated staff truly believes “great things are always happening at Barry” and would like to see the school continue to grow.

After renting out the nearby Portage Theater, the energetic employees from Redbox began filling the lobby with games, snacks and goody bags. As students arrived, the team from Redbox welcomed them with cheers and high-fives, getting  everyone excited for what was about to happen.

After getting to know one another with a quick ice-breaker game, the students, teachers and staff picked up some popcorn at the concessions stand and settled into their seats next to the Redbox team, ready to enjoy a screening of The Polar Express.

During intermission, students were invited to the lobby, where the volunteers had set up holiday themed games with enough prizes for everyone. Students enjoyed playing Snowman Beanbags, Pin the Tail on Rudolph and an interactive game where teams used wrapping paper and ribbons trying to disguise one another as sparkling holiday gifts. After a few more snacks, intermission was over and everyone was excited to find out what stop was next on The Polar Express!

In a matter of hours, friendships had formed between Barry students and Redbox employees. The students were loaded up with goody bags, a few more high-fives and then sent on their way. An afternoon at the movies is something that many of us take for granted.

For young kids whose families are struggling with employment and financial burdens, an afternoon of fun, games and a movie theater all to themselves serves to remind Barry students that they are still on Santa's nice list. We're so glad that our 'Volunteer Elves' from Redbox were there to make it all happen!

Workplace Giving Infographic

View larger here

Payoff for CSR Initiatives

This is a great infographic making the case for Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.  I couldn't agree more.  Do you want to work for a company who participates in charitable activities?  Does your company offer volunteer opportunities?  Workplace giving?  If more companies made more of an effort to get behind a cause they believe in, the nonprofit would obviously benefit, but would the company too?  What about it's employees?  Reputation?  Sales?  Seems like a win-win for me... yet it's still hard to get the corporate world involved sometimes.  How do we get them more involved?