Last week, we held our 23rd Annual Golf and
Tennis Outing to support the Moorestown Education Foundation (MEF). The mission of the MEF is to support and
advance the excellence of the Moorestown Township Public Schools through the
development and funding of innovative programs and initiatives, which create
significant, widespread and lasting impact on the education of the children in
the district. We have funded programs such as a new television and media
studio, ESL age appropriate library books, maker spaces, an after school lounge
for middle school students with no after school safe spaces, and supported
teams of students working with N.A.S.A. on innovative solutions. These are just
a few of the many programs that have been piloted and supported by the MEF.
Personally, it is one of my favorite volunteer activities
because we are positively impacting students and building a better future for them.
I serve as a Board Trustee and Chairperson of the Governance Committee. In this
capacity, I am able to share my leadership, governance, project management,
financial, and communication skills. It is a great example of strategic voluntarism.
The mission of the organization engages me and I am able to contribute my
business expertise to improving the organization allowing the group to maximize
its mission. At HRComputes, we encourage
employees to engage with a not for profit and give work time and financial
support to promote volunteering.
Often, I am asked what I mean when I discuss the concept of
strategic voluntarism and this example highlights many of the concepts. Sustainable Development Goal #4 is Quality Education and this goal directly impacts many of the other goals such as #1 No Poverty, #2 Zero Hunger, #3 Good Health and Wellbeing, #5 Gender Equality, and # 8 Decent Work. Education is a foundational pillar to business success, as we all need highly
skilled workforces to compete globally. Creating a strategic voluntarism program allows for employee input
and selection and it leverages existing skills and competencies while providing opportunity for future growth. As the over 450 hours of service contributed in
2017 indicates, voluntarism is part of our culture. Allowing employees to use
work time to contribute to their selected not for profit builds engagement.
If you would like to have a conversation on building an
impactful strategic voluntarism program, please contact me.
