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Corporate America Collaborates to Bring Action, Innovation and Community Impact

Corporate America Collaborates to Bring Action, Innovation and Community Impact

Published 09-05-07

Submitted by Points of Light

ATLANTA, GA "“ September 4, 2007 - Across North America and around the world, thousands of corporate volunteers will build, paint, refurbish and renew communities as part of the third annual Corporate Month of Service. Each year, communities across the country have benefited from thousands of eager volunteers determined to make a difference, and this year, corporate partners are expanding their reach further than ever through this unique celebration of service.

Led by the Corporate Service Council and more than 50 other partner companies, September has been established as the time to highlight the impact volunteer leadership and corporate citizenship has on thousands of communities all year round. This year, the Corporate Service Council, chaired by UPS Chairman and CEO Mike Eskew, is issuing a "Corporate Challenge" to companies large and small, urging them to join this action oriented approach to community engagement by signing up through the website, www.BeHandsOn.org. According to Eskew, Corporate Month of Service is a dynamic way to demonstrate impact and multiply the efforts of communities by providing resources, both physical and financial, to help them bring about positive change.

"Since its inception three years ago, we have amplified our success each year - equipping and training more volunteer leaders, transforming more communities, and managing more projects that achieve real community impact," said Points of Light & Hands On Network CEO Michelle Nunn. "The first Corporate Month of Service was created through the partnership and leadership of The Home Depot and has grown in momentum and scale with more companies participating each year. This year we are seeking to broaden our reach and deepen our impact with more partners joining us in service," said Nunn.

Throughout the month, partners such as WaMu, UBS, VSP, UPS, 3M, Philip Morris, UnitedHealth Group and The Home Depot, will lead teams of volunteers into schools, community centers, playgrounds, and parks, all in an effort to build community through their service.

"WaMu supports Corporate Month of Service because we know first hand the impact committed volunteers can have in our communities," said Kerry Killinger, WaMu chairman and CEO. "Last year, our employees spent more than 160,000 hours volunteering in our communities. Giving back in this way is part of our company heritage and a central building block of our corporate values. Participating in Corporate Month of Service gives us the opportunity to bring together high-energy volunteers from our combined workforce with the biggest hearts and the sincerest desire to make a meaningful contribution to our communities."

Some of the projects this year's Corporate Month of Service will feature include;

  • On September 15th in Los Angeles, CA, WaMu Chairman and CEO Kerry Killinger will join hundreds of his colleagues for community service projects with LA Works. Later in the month, WaMu will also be hosting projects in Atlanta, GA, Houston, TX, Miami, FL, New York, NY, and Seattle, WA.

  • On September 27th in New York City, more than 100 volunteers from The Home Depot will work with New York Cares on a large scale beautification project, planting 45 trees, hundreds of flowers, and cleaning an entire city block, ultimately renewing a neighborhood that will eventually house a community garden that The Home Depot will sponsor.

  • UBS volunteers in Chicago will renovate the Medill Elementary School, repainting the interior and exterior of the building while also enhancing the school’s outdoor play spaces.

  • Volunteers from The Home Depot will bring the Hands On Schools program to Brunetta Hill Elementary School in Birmingham, AL. More than 300 volunteers will repaint the hallways, renovate the playground, and landscape the surrounding area.

    Included in Corporate Month of Service this year will be the newly launched Hands On Schools program. Hands On Schools is an innovative approach to school revitalization, reestablishing them as the focal point of the community through innovative public and private partnerships, and providing a replicable model so communities everywhere can be equipped to stimulate positive change. Five projects in Alabama, Oregon, and California will demonstrate the power of collective investment by reenergizing school communities, and ultimately impacting student achievement.

    A unique alliance of 65 corporate leaders and nonprofits partners, the Corporate Service Council was formed in 2006, dedicated to raising volunteerism by 10% in North America over the course of two years. Last year, 60,000 volunteers participated in Corporate Month of Service, taking part in more than 1,000 community service projects in communities across the country. It is estimated that this contribution amounted to approximately $6.4 million.

    About Corporate Month of Service

    A unique demonstration of corporate collaboration, Corporate Month of Service showcases the collective power of corporate America to create significant change in communities at home and abroad through volunteer service. Corporate Month of Service is an initiative of the Corporate Service Council, chaired by UPS Chairman and CEO, Mike Eskew. The third annual Corporate Month of Service is spurred by the corporate challenge "“ a call to action for member companies establishing September as the month to demonstrate the values of corporate social responsibility, and recognizing the contributions of Corporate Service Council member’s year-round efforts to highlight the collective impact of an engaged and mobilized citizenry.

    About Points of Light & Hands On Network

    Points of Light & Hands On Network inspires and mobilizes people to become engaged, take action and solve community problems. The organization supports a robust network of 370 affiliates, covering 88% of the US market, with eight international locations. Collectively, they mobilize millions of volunteers who partner with thousands of nonprofits, schools and community organizations every year. By cultivating a dynamic network of linked civic hubs, corporate partners, nonprofits, and citizen leaders who engage volunteers in meaningful community change, they are building a change movement - achieving scale and impact by inspiring a culture of service and offering practical tools, new ideas and innovation to the civic space. For more information, visit www.HandsOnNetwork.org or www.PointsOfLight.org

    About Hands On Schools

    Combining the resources of parents, communities and corporate volunteers in an innovative approach, Hands On Schools aims to reestablish schools as the focal point of the community. Founded through the generous support of a $3 million challenge grant from The Home Depot, this unique collective investment continues to foster positive community growth through school revitalization. Over the course of two years, Points of Light & Hands On Network, through it's affiliate organizations, will manage 100 projects in school communities across the country.

    About The Home Depot

    The Home Depot(R) is the world's largest home improvement specialty retailer, with 2,184 retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, 10 Canadian provinces, Mexico and China. Through its HD Supply(SM) businesses, The Home Depot is also one of the largest diversified wholesale distributors in the United States, with nearly 1,000 locations in the United States and Canada offering products and services for building, improving and maintaining homes, businesses and municipal infrastructures. In fiscal 2006, The Home Depot had sales of $90.8 billion and earnings of $5.8 billion. The Company employs approximately 364,000 associates. The Home Depot's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: HD) and is included in the Dow Jones industrial average and Standard & Poor's 500 index.

    About UBS

    UBS is one of the world's leading financial firms, serving a discerning international client base. Its business, global in scale, is focused on growth. As an integrated firm, UBS creates added value for clients by drawing on the combined resources and expertise of all its businesses. UBS is the leading global wealth manager, a top tier investment banking and securities firm, and one of the largest global asset managers. In Switzerland, UBS is the market leader in retail and commercial banking. UBS is present in all major financial centers worldwide. It has offices in 50 countries, with about 39% of its employees working in the Americas, 34% in Switzerland, 17% in the rest of Europe and 10% in Asia Pacific. UBS's financial businesses employ some 80,000 people around the world. Its shares are listed on the SWX Swiss Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE).

    About VSP

    VSP Vision Care is a community benefit, not-for-profit company with a mission to increase Americans' access to the best eyecare coverage. VSP provides comprehensive eyecare benefits to more than 51 million members nationwide. VSP's Sight for StudentsTM program has delivered free eyecare and glasses to 410,000 low-income, uninsured children since 1997. Recognized by FORTUNE magazine for eight consecutive years as one of best places to work in America, VSP ranks "Highest in Member Satisfaction Among National Vision Plans, Three Years in a Row" by J.D. Power and Associates. For more information visit us at www.vsp.com

    About WaMu

    WaMu, through its subsidiaries, is one of the nation's leading consumer and small business banks. At June 30, 2007, WaMu and its subsidiaries had assets of $312.22 billion. The company has a history dating back to 1889 and its subsidiary banks currently operate approximately 2,700 consumer and small business banking stores throughout the nation. WaMu's press releases are available at http://newsroom.wamu.com.

    About 3M

    3M is a $22.9 billion diversified technology company with leading positions in electronics, telecommunications, industrial, consumer and office, health care, safety and other markets. Headquartered in St.Paul, Minn., the company has operations in nearly 200 countries. 3M Community Giving consists of product donations and cash grants by 3M and the 3M Foundation and bolstered by employee and retiree volunteerism. In 2006, over $37 million was awarded to education and charitable organizations.

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    Points of Light

    Points of Light

    Points of Light is a global nonprofit organization that inspires, equips and mobilizes millions of people to take action that changes the world. We envision a world in which every individual discovers the power to make a difference, creating healthy communities in vibrant, participatory societies. Through 145 affiliates across 39 countries, and in partnership with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages 3.7 million volunteers in 16.7 million hours of service each year, contributing $498.7 million of value in people power into communities around the world. We bring the power of people to bear where it’s needed most. To learn more about Points of Light visit pointsoflight.org

    Partnering with Points of Light means you’ll have the expertise and support you need to mobilize your colleagues and create community impact using all aspects of civic engagement. We've helped companies with a variety of needs including implementing large-scale employee volunteer events, tackling your larger social impact vision, expanding how you engage communities and consumers, infusing new ideas to your annual employee engagement programs, connecting with peers to bring the latest and greatest ideas on impact measurement, and getting company leadership investment and buy-in. Learn more today.

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