As was mentioned before there are many ways to become a “Good Corporate Citizen”. Listed below is what we believe are the five main components:

1. Employer Supported Volunteerism

Employee Supported Volunteerism is an emerging trend across the nation. An increasing number of companies are supporting and encouraging employee volunteer initiatives in their communities. The most recent statistics on employee volunteerism report that approximately 27% of companies helped their employees volunteer by allowing them to modify their work hours in order to take part in volunteer activity, an increase of 5% over the last three years.

" Having employees involved in voluntary activities sends a message to the community that the business sector is concerned about community issues. By supporting community, businesses are building the overall health of the community. In turn, a better business climate is established and the well being of employees and customers increases. Supporting employees who are in leadership roles in the community increases the visibility of the business, strengthening employee morale and the pride employees have in the company they work for" (excerpt from Volunteer Canada 's website at www.volunteer.ca)

Employer-Supported Volunteerism Benefits

As listed on Volunteer Canada's website (www.volunteer.ca) Employer-Supported Volunteerism has a three way hit where all the parties benefit:

Your company

• increases public image
• improves relations with community groups, the public and employees
• creates a healthier economic and social environment
• improves employee morale, productivity and loyalty

Your employees and retirees

• learn new skills
• enhance self-worth and confidence
• gain additional experience for career growth
• add to a healthier and more fulfilling life

Your community

• increase the number of active volunteers
• influx of skilled volunteers
• provide support for needy individuals and groups
• strengthen philanthropic donations

There are many ways for a company and its employees to volunteer or help in the community and examples are as follows:

1. Offer to help out at the local food bank
2. Get involved in your local hospital and help out in entertaining the “Sick Kids”
3. Start a blood donation race with some other companies and see who has donated the most after a month.
4. Arrange an “Athletic League” for underprivileged kids where they can take part in competitive sports.
5. Organize a “Big Brothers/Sisters” drive where employees can offer help and guidance to less privileged kids.
6. As a company take part in a sponsored walk or run to raise money for charity.
7. Volunteer some time at the local Dog Pound.
8. Become a volunteer firefighter.
9. Gather clothing from your neighbors and donate it to a local shelter, or gather gifts at Christmas and donate them to needy families.
10. Organize a car pooling campaign

2. Corporate Giving

Another excellent way for any organization to get a little bit further down the road of becoming a “Good Corporate Citizen” is to organize charitable giving strategies within the workplace. The employees can decide on one or more worthwhile charities and to show their support the company can offer to match dollar for dollar any contributions raised.

It is worthwhile to look into the tax benefits of doing this as they may well be considerable.

3. Community Education

Consider starting up a bursary program where the company can sponsor some or all of the costs of a tuition program at the local college or university. This can be an excellent way to help in the education of a young person.

4. Free Help Related to your Companies Services

A company can have a policy of donating some of it’s time or resources to help other smaller companies or start ups to succeed in business. For example a Public Relations company could offer a start up company 10 hours free consulting, or a graphics company may want to offer the design of a logo for free. These are great ways to show your support for new businesses that are trying to set up in your area.

5. Make Some Positions Available in your Company for Physically Challenged Persons

Did you ever think of how difficult it might be to find employment if you were disabled? Did you ever stop to think how you would feel if you weren’t ever able to work again? In fact often it can be a hard struggle for those with a disability to find and keep employment so organizations may want to look at ways of creating positions in their workforce to enable gainful employment of those with a disability. What better way is there to make a difference in the community than to help someone into paid employment when they formerly believed that there was no hope for them.