What if instead of donating money to address such social ills as lack of access to good schools corporations tried to find solutions to such problems?
A multi-group effort that includes the United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region is one of only 21 United Way organizations nationwide chosen to participate in a collaboration with Fortune 500 companies to promote corporate responsibility roles in addressing social ills.
Capital Area United Way, United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region, United Way of Jackson County, and United Way of Southwest Michigan will all be working together in the Corporate Engagement Partnership, a two-year initiative to explore broad-based strategies that tackle social needs.
Consumers Energy, Kellogg Company and Whirlpool Corporation, all Michigan-based, will be working to accelerate strategies that promote corporate social responsibility, volunteerism by employees, and donor stewardship.
"As state and national economic and social dynamics evolve, our United Ways and these corporate partners have discussed our mutual desire to create deeper engagement--going beyond fundraising to mobilize human and financial resources strategically, consistently and effectively for meaningful, lasting change," says Ken Toll, President and CEO, United Way of Jackson County.
Michael Larson, President & CEO, United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region points out the needs around education, income and health are not bound by municipal borders, and are in fact intertwined with the interests of our communities and our corporate partners. "We see the potential for our United Way organizations to serve as the primary conduit for these companies to drive their corporate social responsibility strategies through active partnership," Larson says.
"If we do our job well," says Teresa Kmetz, President, Capital Area United Way, "all involved will benefit--meaning all children will thrive in the educational setting, all families and individuals will have the means to achieve financial security, and all people will have access to quality health care. Those are real, meaningful measures that demonstrate how United Way and our corporate partners, working together, can advance the common good for all."
Writer: Kathy Jennings, Second Wave Media
Source: Rick Chambers, Rick Chambers Associates
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