Cornerstone: Responding to Pakistan's S.O.S.

We are the first ones to say it... we're behind in rallying support for Pakistan's 15 million+ people that have been displaced or affected by the massive flooding that, one month later, still has 20 percent of the country under water.

Thanks to some BG do-gooders, the call to action has been heard loud and clear!

The Blackstone Group is pulling together to help flood-ravaged Pakistan through a 100% matching program for employees that graciously give to worthy charities with active "troops" on the ground (and just happen to be Four-Star Charities, according to Charity Navigator).

The three charities we identified are:

• AmeriCares:  AmeriCares is a long-time supporter in Pakistan.  They have delivered more than $57 million of aid since 1990, including medicine, medical supplies, equipment, health care facilities and food. 
• According to AmerCares' website, "the latest AmeriCares airlift contains more than $500,000 worth of critical medical aid to help survivors of devastating floods in Pakistan."

• Save the Children:  Save the Children has the ambitious goal of providing aid to 2 million children and adults in Pakistan within the next six months.  To date, their teams already on the ground have: 
• helped feed about 85,000 families in cities across Pakistan, including Swat, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Muzaffargarh, Sukkur, Jacobabad and Shikarpur;
• provided water purification tablets to families so that they can purify drinking water; and
• provided 11,800 people in Swat and 9,600 people in Dera Ismail Khan with tents, shelter kits and other essential materials.

• UNICEF:  UNICEF is already on the ground and has already: 
• provided hygiene kits, water tankers and high-energy biscuits;
• repaired 73 tube wells benefiting 800,000 people; and
• established 24 medical camps treating an estimated 1 million people.
• (Source: http://www.unicef.org/media/media_55406.html)

 
These worthy not-for-profit organizations are doing the heavy lifting of bringing hope and health to a nation torn down by unyielding waters that used to serve as the country's lifeblood.  The Blackstone Group is doing what it can to make sure that their admirable strides for change are supported.

We'll let you know how this initiative goes, so stay tuned!

 
For the love of research...

Cornerstone: A Is for Auction, B Is for Book

You can tell a lot about a person by what they read.

That's what our Exec VP Kathi Rose was thinking when she proposed holding BG's first annual book sale.

This is a great example of how to engage your coworkers in your new (or old... I mean, er, seasoned) CSR program.  Here's how we attacked it:

• Ask your coworkers to bring in used books that they:

1. have read
2. were going to toss (into a recycling can, of course!) but just never got around to it and/or
3. can no longer fit on their burgeoning bookshelves

• Take a pointer from the ballparks!
• There's something to be said for having a captive audience... hence bathroom advertising!
• Yeah, we know, a lot of times we really hate that advertising, but when it is for a good cause then you can't help feel good about reading it (summoning those heart-wrenching, donate-to-this-or-that commercials on TV... who can get mad at puppies... I mean, really...)

• Arrange the books in the breakroom (or some other social place)
• The more books that they see, the more likely they are to bring in some of their own

• Don't forget the name cards
• Arguably the best part of this event is looking at what people brought, so arrange the books in piles by former owner
• Curious people will spend more time looking over the available titles
• Be careful what you ask for... I am certainly rethinking a few of my donated texts that received some, er, company "acclaim"...

• A dollar for a dollar
• Double the collection by selling the used books for a dollar and have the company to match the total sale
• Your coworkers will think they got a great deal on some paper treasures and you'll help build your internal brand

•  Give the leftover books to a good cause
• Rather than recycling the books that didn't sell, give them to a worthy non-profit
• We chose The Reading Tree because:
1. Their main focus is on literacy issues in America and worldwide
2. The books go to school libraries in low-income communities, after school programs or, if they can't be used, are properly recycled
3. They have convenient receptacles all over town because those books can get really heavy, really fast (we can't all have superhuman strength!)

Insider's secret: I picked up...

Cover of Night, by Elie Wiesel

I couldn't believe that I had not read this before, so I blazed through this soul-ripping book in a day.  (Okay, okay, it's only 100 pages or so, but the content is very heavy.)  I highly recommend this book and am looking forward to reading more of Elie Wiesel.


For the love of research...

Cornerstone: To Give Or Not To Give (That's Not Even a Question)

We love a good not-for-profit, and we love to get together and do some good old fashioned fundraising for worthy causes.  Socially focused projects are good for company morale and, let's be honest, a nice external-facing, er, face lift because good citizenship really is good for business.

In our "Cornerstone" blogs, we will be talking about how small to medium-sized business can start their own corporate social responsibility (CSR) program and how ours is going.  

CSR programs don't have to be a big production.  All it takes is executive sponsorship (HR is usually a great starting place) and a general understanding on what pulls on your fellow employees' heartstrings.  For us, it ranges from local animal organizations to international charities helping children in need.  For you, it could be inner-city art programs and community gardens.  Honestly, it doesn't matter what you do, as long as you love doing it.


Seven Steps to CSR Success: (think of it as our little road map)

1) Talk to HR and your boss about starting the program
2) Get a group of three or four like-minded do-gooders together to start a committee
3) Think of one simple way to get your fellow employees involved

• Food drives are a great starting point!

4) Make them drink the kool-aid (or at least post the flyer on the ubiquitous water cooler)

• It is important to promote your event through e-mails and via flyers in hot spots throughout the office.  The more people know about and reminded about the program, the more successful your first event will be!
• Oh, and hey, don't forget the company logo.  This is a great opportunity to reinforce your brand.  We're not talking about selling it.  We're talking about making people feel good and do good things... and making that feel good feeling connect with the company's brand image.

5) Make that first event FUN!

• People are more likely to stay involved if they have a fun time doing it.  You could make it a challenge... like who brings in the most canned goods?

6) Rinse.

• Get feedback from your coworkers about the event, and don't forget to ask them how they think it could be better.

7) Repeat.

• Try to have at least one event a month.  You want to keep the program top of mind.
• Here is a good list of potential fund-raising events: http://www.fundraiserinsight.org/ideas/

Have you started a CSR program at your place of work?  Share your tips for socially conscious success! 


For the love of research...