3.19.2007 - 09:00am ET

(CSRwire) The most successful companies of the future will be driven by a purpose and mission that go well beyond their balance sheets. Rather than concentrating on profits alone, they’ll be leveraging corporate philanthropy to create inspiring values-based workplaces.

In her new book, CORPORATE KARMA; How Business Can Move Forward by Giving Back (Orenda/March 1, 2007/$19 .95, paperback), Pelosi illuminates the "why to" and "how to" for successful strategic corporate philanthropy by laying out the critical steps executives and their companies can take to create and sustain “giving” programs that deliver bottom-line results.

Says Pelosi, former VP of Network Development (Sales) for publicly traded USANA Health Sciences, "Something that began as an opportunity to develop a strategic philanthropy program for the company I was working for, turned into the beginning of a profound personal journey. I have found a way to help businesses find their souls."

Her epiphany came when she devised a way for USANA Health Sciences to make a difference on a massive scale - and by doing so, change their corporate culture from infighting to outreaching. The cost of adding strategic corporate philanthropy and social responsibility to a company's operations? In the case of USANA, results were expressed by doubled sales, a 3,000% increase in the per-share stock price and, perhaps most importantly, a profound difference in the way both the company and its employees saw their place in the world.

Today, Peggie Pelosi is continuing to revolutionize the world of corporate philanthropy through Orenda Connections (www.orendaconnections.com), the firm she established to strategically connect companies with philanthropic causes. She finds the cause, matches up the company with the cause and designs and executes the corporate program for the client. Orenda gets a company behind a cause, which will then energize and inspire the entire staff to work on the cause as a team, for one common goal. She helps the company discover its "emotional profit center".

"Giving is good," reveals Pelosi, and it can do good things for the company doing the giving. Recalling the changes she observed at USANA, Pelosi enthuses, "Amazing things happened. Contributions to the charity tripled, the company's sales more than doubled, and importantly, the climate in the organization was transformed. As employees and other stakeholders saw the powerful impact their efforts were having on the lives of thousands of needy children around the world, they invested more energy in their work and camaraderie flourished."

Peggie Pelosi has committed herself to nurturing the spirit of connection between company and cause by crystallizing the concept of Corporate Karma in this groundbreaking, fascinating book. Her vision unites traditional business concerns with an awareness of how much more people want to do - and can do - when they have the right kind of opportunities.

Testimonials:

"Peggie Pelosi brings her unique experience of building the reputation, culture and revenues of a major corporation with leadership skills that include corporate philanthropy. Her message is a unique one, complete with practical advice- showing us how to succeed in a way that inspires."
- Dr. Lance H.K. Secretan, The Secretan Center

"Corporate Karma is a terrific message for business leaders clearly showing how corporate culture can be positively impacted when philanthropy is at the root of a business mission."
- Jeffrey Flug, CEO, Millennium Promise Alliance

"When corporate-community giving is an extension of what your business stands for, employees become engaged and inspired. Concentric circles of benevolence ripple out to suppliers, communities and local non-profits, and everyone benefits. Corporate Karma outlines a practical blueprint for any business leader to follow."
- Brad Shaw, SVP, Corporate Communications and External Affairs, The Home Depot

"For business people looking to give something back to society in a meaningful way, this innovative book provides simple yet valuable strategies."
- Don Green, Co-founder, ROOTS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Peggie Pelosi inspires international business leaders through her speaking, coaching and writing – all based on 20 years of personal sales success. At the peak of her career, Peggie was brought in as VP of Network Development (Sales) for USANA Health Science. Seeing that corporate culture was hampering bottom-line results, she created a partnership between USANA and The Children’s Hunger Fund. Over the next three years, sales increased dramatically resulting in a more than 3000% increase in the company’s share value.

Peggie went on the establish Orenda Connections, a company dedicated to helping businesses leverage the power of corporate philanthropy to create meaningful connections between people and the places they work.

Peggie is a member of The National Speakers Association and The Canadian Association of Professional Speakers. She is on the board of directors of The Children’s Hunger Fund and is an active participant in a number of international humanitarian projects.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: CORPORATE KARMA: How Business Can Move Forward by Giving Back
Author: Peggie Pelosi
Publication Date: March 1, 2007
Price: $19.95, paperback
Pages: 172
ISBN-10: 0978232704
ISBN-13: 978-0978232702

For more information, visit www.orendaconnections.com/corporate_karma.php

For Further media information, or for an interview, please contact:

Nelson Hudes
Hudes Communications International
(905) 660-9155
nelson@hudescommunications.com

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