Introduction:
Although many companies question the extent of their public responsibilities, many more wonder about their roles as corporate citizens. Our quality role models believe that taking the lead in publicly important areas is an essential part of a successful system. These areas include supporting education, volunteering for and funding community services, contributing to industry and trade activities, and promoting quality improvement.
USAA: Encouraging Volunteer Service in the Community
The USAA Volunteer Corps matches USAA employees vvith community nonprofit agencies that need additional helpers to achieve their humanitarian goals. in 1996, more than 4.400 USAA volunteers contributed över 190,000 hours to their communities.Over 350 initiatives began in San Antonio alone. They volunteer hours to whatever activities they wish to support.
Support for Charities from USAA
In 1996, USAA employees donated $3.6 million to United Way. USAA then provided an additional $2 million in matching corporate funds, bringing the total to $5.6 million. Although USAA comprises less than 2 percent of the workforce in San Antonio, USAA's United Way contributions accounted for one out of every six dollars of the total monies donated in the community in 1996, or 17 percent of the total contributions, USAA has become a community leader because it is committed to service and has organized internally to provide that service.
IMC: A Culture of Caring
As a small company, IMC enjoys the same sense of community that exists in small towns. Associates know and care about each other and their community. "Everybody here realizes that they owe their success to the community," says John Bloomstine, president of IMC. "Our clients are all basically within a 50-mile radius, even though they have operations worldwide."
IMC associates choose which community organizations to support and how to support them. IMC encourages their participation, but does not dictate how they should be involved. Through their actions, the leaders at IMC demonstrate the value of community service. Associates respond with widespread involvement of their own, including contributions that earned IMC the Gold Award of the United Way of Erie County.