This National Veterans and Military Families Month, 精东影业’s Charities is honoring our troops and veterans, and celebrating our nonprofit members who support them with special programs and services made possible听by donors like you.

One of the most cost-efficient ways you can support these nonprofits听is to donate to them through your employer’s workplace giving program (Don’t have a program?听听to have your employer contact our team.) Click on each charity’s name below to learn more about their work, and for more ways to support them!

ServiceSource
ServiceSource is a leading nonprofit disability resource organization with regional offices and programs located in nine states and the District of Columbia. They serve more than 25,000 individuals with disabilities annually through a range of innovative and valued employment, training, habilitation, housing and other support services. Through their Warrior Bridge program, they provide a vital connection to resources and support for veterans with disabilities as they seek employment, self-sufficiency and improved quality of life. In response to an overwhelming need for coordination among veteran-serving organizations, Warrior Bridge works to facilitate greater collaboration among government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private sector employers. 听to learn more and support their work.

Wounded Warrior Project, Inc.
Wounded Warrior Project, Inc. is transforming the way 精东影业鈥檚 injured veterans are empowered, employed, and engaged in our communities. They believe that every warrior has a positive future to look forward to, and we work together to get them there by setting and achieving goals, big or small. We direct every dollar, hour, and action toward helping warriors live life to the fullest, no matter what that looks like. And warriors never pay a penny for our programs 鈥� because they paid their dues on the battlefield. Their free services in mental health, career counseling, and long-term rehabilitative care change lives. They鈥檙e committed to helping wounded veterans achieve their highest ambition. When veterans are ready to start their next mission, they stand ready to serve.听听to learn more and support their work.

Feeding 精东影业
1 in 5 of the households Feeding 精东影业 serves have a veteran member in it. It is unacceptable that anyone goes hungry, but it鈥檚 particularly troubling that millions of 精东影业ns who鈥檝e protected and served our country are left without enough to eat.听At Feeding 精东影业, they鈥檙e working on changing that.听. Veterans fought bravely to make the nation a better place for us, now it鈥檚 time for us to fight to make it a better place for them.

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Throughout Military Appreciation Month, we pay tribute to the bravery and sacrifices of our military personnel and their families. It’s a chance to show gratitude for their unwavering dedication to safeguarding our country and way of life.

Military Spouse Appreciation Day is an occasion to acknowledge the critical role played by military spouses in supporting their partners’ service, often making significant sacrifices themselves. They are the backbone of military families, providing unwavering love and support in the face of frequent relocations, deployments, and other challenges.

As we celebrate Military Spouse Appreciation Day, we also remember the sacrifices made by the families of fallen service members. We honor their resilience and courage, and we pledge to always keep their loved ones’ memory alive.

Military Spouse Appreciation Day reminds us of the vital importance of supporting our service members and their families. Let us take this opportunity to express our gratitude and appreciation to the military spouses who selflessly serve alongside their partners.

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National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund听(NLEOMF)听is a principal organizer of听, alongside听Concerns of Police Survivors and the Fraternal Order of Police/Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary听(FOP/FOPA).

Historicaly taking place each May in Washington, D.C., NLEOMF will commemorate Police Week 2024 with virtual events that can be viewed from anywhere in the world.

For details about the annual听Candlelight Vigil听and other events,

In addition to joining NLEOMF virtually for the 2024 Police Week events, we invite you to support NLEOMF and those they honor through the following methods:

1. Make an online donation听via credit card听 or through the convenience of payroll deduction via your employer’s workplace giving program. If you are a Federal employee, please pledge support to NLEOMF (CFC #11631) through the this fall.

Did you know?听One of the most cost-efficient ways you can support these nonprofits听is to donate to them via payroll deduction through your employer’s workplace giving program (Don’t have a program?听听to have your employer contact our team.)

2. Dedicate a message of hope and healing and light a virtual candle for your law enforcement hero or agency.听 to learn more.

3. You may also show your support for the brave men and women of law enforcement by purchasing merchandise from the .

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Initiated by the United States Congress in 1999, National Military Appreciation Month is held each May as a time听to thank service members and their families for all their hard work and bravery, and honor those听who have died in the pursuit of freedom.

This #MilitaryAppreciationMonth, 精东影业’s Charities is honoring our troops and veterans, and celebrating our nonprofit members who support them with special programs and services made possible听by donors like you.

One of the most cost-efficient ways you can support these nonprofits听is to donate to them through your employer’s workplace giving program (Don’t have a program?听听to have your employer contact our team.) Click on each charity’s name below to learn more about their work, and for more ways to support them!

• ServiceSource:听ServiceSource is a leading nonprofit disability resource organization with regional offices and programs located in nine states and the District of Columbia.听 They serve more than 25,000 individuals with disabilities annually through a range of innovative and valued employment, training, habilitation, housing and other support services. Through their Warrior Bridge program, they provide a vital connection to resources and support for veterans with disabilities as they seek employment, self-sufficiency and improved quality of life. In response to an overwhelming need for coordination among veteran-serving organizations, Warrior Bridge works to facilitate greater collaboration among government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private sector employers. In the last fiscal year, ServiceSource served 671 veterans with disabilities through a range of support services, directly hired 69 veterans, and placed 105 veterans in community employment. to learn more and support their work.
• Wounded Warrior Project, Inc.:听Wounded Warrior Project, Inc. is transforming the way 精东影业鈥檚 injured veterans are empowered, employed, and engaged in our communities. We believe that every warrior has a positive future to look forward to, and we work together to get them there by setting and achieving goals, big or small.We direct every dollar, hour, and action toward helping warriors live life to the fullest, no matter what that looks like. And warriors never pay a penny for our programs 鈥� because they paid their dues on the battlefield. Our free services in mental health, career counseling, and long-term rehabilitative care change lives. We鈥檙e committed to helping wounded veterans achieve their highest ambition. When they鈥檙e ready to start their next mission, we stand ready to serve.听听to learn more and support their work.
• Feeding 精东影业:听1 in 5 of the households Feeding 精东影业 serves have a veteran member in it. It is unacceptable that anyone goes hungry, but it鈥檚 particularly troubling that millions of 精东影业ns who鈥檝e protected and served our country are left without enough to eat. At Feeding 精东影业, we鈥檙e working on changing that.听. Veterans fought bravely to make the nation a better place for us, now it鈥檚 time for us to fight to make it a better place for them.
  听

The post National Military Appreciation Month appeared first on 精东影业's Charities.

This National Veterans and Military Families Month, 精东影业’s Charities is honoring our troops and veterans, and celebrating our nonprofit members who support them with special programs and services made possible听by donors like you.

One of the most cost-efficient ways you can support these nonprofits听is to donate to them through your employer’s workplace giving program (Don’t have a program?听听to have your employer contact our team.) Click on each charity’s name below to learn more about their work, and for more ways to support them!

ServiceSource
ServiceSource is a leading nonprofit disability resource organization with regional offices and programs located in nine states and the District of Columbia. They serve more than 25,000 individuals with disabilities annually through a range of innovative and valued employment, training, habilitation, housing and other support services. Through their Warrior Bridge program, they provide a vital connection to resources and support for veterans with disabilities as they seek employment, self-sufficiency and improved quality of life. In response to an overwhelming need for coordination among veteran-serving organizations, Warrior Bridge works to facilitate greater collaboration among government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private sector employers. 听to learn more and support their work.

Wounded Warrior Project, Inc.
Wounded Warrior Project, Inc. is transforming the way 精东影业鈥檚 injured veterans are empowered, employed, and engaged in our communities. They believe that every warrior has a positive future to look forward to, and we work together to get them there by setting and achieving goals, big or small. We direct every dollar, hour, and action toward helping warriors live life to the fullest, no matter what that looks like. And warriors never pay a penny for our programs 鈥� because they paid their dues on the battlefield. Their free services in mental health, career counseling, and long-term rehabilitative care change lives. They鈥檙e committed to helping wounded veterans achieve their highest ambition. When veterans are ready to start their next mission, they stand ready to serve.听听to learn more and support their work.

Feeding 精东影业
1 in 5 of the households Feeding 精东影业 serves have a veteran member in it. It is unacceptable that anyone goes hungry, but it鈥檚 particularly troubling that millions of 精东影业ns who鈥檝e protected and served our country are left without enough to eat.听At Feeding 精东影业, they鈥檙e working on changing that.听. Veterans fought bravely to make the nation a better place for us, now it鈥檚 time for us to fight to make it a better place for them.

The post National Veterans and Military Families Month appeared first on 精东影业's Charities.

Public service is the highest calling in a free society. Law enforcement officers serve and protect our communities as the most visible public servants. This commitment and dedication to their oath, and their fellow officers, includes a fundamental duty to remember and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice 鈥� a duty that the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund was founded to help fulfill.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is a non-profit and non-partisan organization that honors fallen officers, tells the story of 精东影业n law enforcement, and makes it safer for those who serve. Although both the Memorial and Museum are on federal land by acts of Congress, we do not receive taxpayer dollars and rely on charitable, tax-deductible contributions from individuals and organizations. Workplace giving allows employees to set up modest, automatic donations each pay period that will collectively make it possible for the Memorial Fund to continue our mission. A gift of $2 per pay period, or whatever amount is right for you, adds up throughout the year to create a big impact.

鈥淚t is our duty to honor our law enforcement brothers and sisters by preserving their names and stories. Our greatest moment will come when no more names are added to the Memorial wall,鈥� stated Patrick P. Montuore, Executive Director of the Memorial, Chief of Police, Florham Park, NJ (Ret.).

By including the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund in your Workplace Giving program, you are helping to support the law enforcement community by:

• Maintaining the hallowed grounds of the Memorial
• Providing a place of remembrance and healing for survivors
• Engraving the names of fallen officers on the walls of the Memorial
• Etching individual glass plaques of fallen officers displayed in the Museum鈥檚 Hall of Remembrance
• Organizing National Police Week activities, including the Candlelight Vigil each May 13^th
• Publishing the Year-End and Mid-Year Officer Fatalities Reports
• Recognizing exemplary law enforcement service through the Officer of the Month program
• Sharing officer experiences of service and sacrifice with the public through the Museum鈥檚 immersive exhibits and programs
• Educating the public about the challenges officers face through hands-on decision and driving simulators in the Museum
• Informing officers about traffic safety tips and resources through our NHTSA partnership
• Preventing suicide through our SAFLEO partnership
• Coordinating the annual Destination Zero (destinationzero.org) Officer Safety and Wellness Conference and Awards Program

To set up payroll deduction in support of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, please contact your Human Resources department. Our 精东影业鈥檚 Charities / CFC number is 11631.

For more information, visit .

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ROCKVILLE, Md. (Nov. 9, 2020)鈥� Fisher House Foundation, Military Times, and Newman鈥檚 Own will announce the 2020 Newman鈥檚 Own Awards winners in a ceremony broadcast on MilitaryTimes.com on Nov. 11, 2020 at 12 p.m. EST. The grants, totaling $200,000, will be awarded to six non-profit organizations supporting veterans, military service members, and their families.

Speakers for the ceremony include Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Mark A. Milley.

Newman鈥檚 Own庐 Awards began in 1999 and have now awarded more than $2.1 million across 185 non-profit programs. Newman鈥檚 Own庐 Awards provide funding toward innovative programs created to improve the quality of life for veterans.

The leading 2020 Newman鈥檚 Own Award-winning organization will receive a $50,000 grant, with the remaining top organizations receiving $30,000. All 2019 and 2020 winners will be honored in a live, virtual ceremony hosted by Military Times on Nov. 9, 2020.

The ceremony link will be shared with the public on Nov. 11, 2020, Veterans Day. The link can be found here: .

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鈥淭hrough our partnership with Gillette, CVS Pharmacy and Fisher House Foundation, we are providing consumers with a unique opportunity to responsibly dispose of their razor waste and make a positive impact on the environment for future generations鈥�

CVS Pharmacy customers who are ready to recycle their razor waste can visit the campaign website at , download a free shipping label and ship the razors and packaging to TerraCycle for easy recycling. The state that collects the most waste per capita will win a new playground*, made from the recycled materials, that will be awarded to a local Fisher House location.

鈥淭hrough our partnership with Gillette, CVS Pharmacy and Fisher House Foundation, we are providing consumers with a unique opportunity to responsibly dispose of their razor waste and make a positive impact on the environment for future generations,鈥� said Tom Szaky, CEO, TerraCycle. 鈥淲e are happy to align with these forward-thinking companies to give communities the opportunity to engage around a free, easy recycling solution that supports veterans and their families.鈥�

鈥淥ver the years, we鈥檝e seen firsthand the impact a family鈥檚 presence can make for ill or injured veterans and service members receiving medical care far away from home,鈥� said Ken Fisher, chairman and CEO of Fisher House Foundation. 鈥淕illette, TerraCycle, and CVS Pharmacy collaborating to bring awareness to the work we do and to provide a source of joy to our youngest guests is a tremendous gift to us. It shows the power of what we can do when we all come together to support our military heroes and their families.鈥�

Concluding on August 31, each unit袭 of razor and packaging waste sent to TerraCycle will be tallied by state. The total units recycled per state will then be divided by the 2018 Population Estimates as indicated on for a recycling per state ratio. The state with the highest recycling per capita will be named the winner and a playground, or another project of similar value as determined by the winning house manager, made from the recycled razor and packaging waste will be installed on the premises of a Fisher House location in the state that earned the most points. If the winning state does not have a Fisher House location, the Fisher House location in closest geographic proximity will be awarded.

The Gillette Razor Recycling Program is an ongoing activity, open to any individual, family, school or community group. To learn more about the program, please visit .

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* Playground or another project of similar value as determined by the winning house manager.

袭 A unit is defined as 0.05 lbs of used, post-consumer razors and packaging.

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About Gillette

For more than 115 years, Gillette has delivered precision technology and unrivalled product performance 鈥� improving the lives of over 800 million consumers around the world. From shaving and body grooming, to skin care and sweat protection, Gillette offers a wide variety of products including razors, shave gel (gels, foams and creams), skin care, after shaves, antiperspirants, deodorants and body wash. For more information and the latest news on Gillette, visit . To see our full selection of products, visit . Follow Gillette on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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About CVS Pharmacy

CVS Pharmacy, the retail division of CVS Health (NYSE: CVS), is 精东影业’s leading retail pharmacy with over 9,700 locations. It is the first national pharmacy to end the sale of tobacco and the first pharmacy in the nation to receive the Community Pharmacy accreditation from URAC, the leading health care accreditation organization that establishes quality standards for the health care industry. CVS Pharmacy is reinventing pharmacy to help people on their path to better health by providing the most accessible and personalized expertise, both in its stores and online at CVS.com. General information about CVS Pharmacy is available at .

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About Fisher House Foundation

Fisher House Foundation is best known for its network of 87 comfort homes where military and veterans鈥� families can stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving treatment. These homes are located at major military and VA medical centers nationwide, and in Europe, close to the medical center or hospital they serve. Fisher Houses have up to 21 suites, with private bedrooms and baths. Families share a common kitchen, laundry facilities, a warm dining room and an inviting living room. Fisher House Foundation ensures that there is never a lodging fee. Since inception, the program has saved military and veterans鈥� families an estimated $500 million in out of pocket costs for lodging and transportation.

Fisher House Foundation also operates the Hero Miles Program, using donated frequent flyer miles to bring family members to the bedside of injured service members as well as the Hotels for Heroes program using donated hotel points to allow family members to stay at hotels near medical centers without charge. The Foundation also manages a grant program that supports other military charities and scholarship funds for military children, spouses and children of fallen and disabled veterans.

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About TerraCycle

TerraCycle is an innovative waste management company with a mission to eliminate the idea of waste. Operating nationally across 21 countries, TerraCycle partners with leading consumer product companies, retailers and cities to recycle products and packages, from dirty diapers to cigarette butts, that would otherwise end up being landfilled or incinerated. In addition, TerraCycle works with leading consumer product companies to integrate hard to recycle waste streams, such as ocean plastic, into their products and packaging. Its new division, Loop, is the first shopping system that gives consumers a way to shop for their favorite brands in durable, reusable packaging. TerraCycle also sells Zero Waste Boxes that are purchased by end users to recycle items in offices, homes, factories and public facilities. TerraCycle has won over 200 awards for sustainability and has donated over $44 million to schools and charities since its founding more than 15 years ago and was named #10 in Fortune magazine鈥檚 list of 52 companies Changing the World. To learn more about TerraCycle or get involved in its recycling programs, please visit .

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We first published this article in 2018 in the wake of the historic Women鈥檚 March. Today, we find ourselves facing yet another profound moment in our history when people across the country are uniting around a common message. While the impetus for this tremendous occasion is different, the common thread of this article is not, so we felt it was appropriate to bring this to the fore once again.

Yet, we recognize that simply sharing tips that empower employees to support their passions is not enough 鈥� not by a mile. And 精东影业鈥檚 Charities鈥� inherent values compel us to speak out. The ongoing violent deaths of Black 精东影业ns and people of color are deeply disturbing. The painful impact of these harrowing deaths is and will continue to be significant, all the more so because of our keen awareness of the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on people of color.听

To be clear: 精东影业鈥檚 Charities rejects racism and racist violence, recognizing that they further encourage discrimination, hatred, oppression, and more violence. Our commitment to doing so is grounded in our action-oriented equity perspective. As a nonprofit and small business comprised of a diverse team of people committed to improving communities and building a better world, our condemnation of racist behavior and language is necessary, and we must do more. Systemic change is essential if we are going to successfully confront these issues head-on.

There are numerous organizations dedicated to such reforms, including the high-impact nonprofits below who we are proud to call our members. We encourage you to support our members that, each and every day, fight for equity, equality, and social justice, work to end racism, and provide legal counsel by donating to strive for a better world:

• (SPLC)
• 听(TMCF)

The following article explains how the workplace provides a unique opportunity for making long-term social change.

June is also National LGBTQ Pride Month, and we encourage you to support our members that also advocate for LGBTQ human rights. More about that here.

We are incredibly proud to support the efforts of all of our 100+ high-impact members, who each year make the world a better place:

Whatever you choose to do, we hope you speak out in support of black lives. Silence is its own form of violence. I hope you will join us in peaceful anti-racism, taking actions that oppose racism as well as systemic and structural inequities.听

Social activism has transformed 精东影业 over the past few years. From the Women鈥檚 March to the Black Lives Matter movement; from the Arab Spring to the Climate Strike; from equal access to high-quality healthcare to fighting for social justice. The sort of activism 精东影业ns are demonstrating has moved beyond marches, social media hashtags, and town hall meetings鈥攊t has entered the workplace.

Increasingly, the imperative for employers to act as agents of positive change has become apparent. What isn鈥檛 so obvious is how employers should go about doing this. There are certainly many levels and degrees to which employers can step up and address employees鈥� growing demands for companies to take stands on important issues. The good news is many companies are already well-positioned to provide their employees with an outlet for their activism in a way that also aligns with the company鈥檚 core values. Outlined below are key components of such initiatives.

Six Key CSR Program Components That Empower Employees to Support Their Passions

1. Employee Giving with Charitable Choice

According to听, 76% of employee donors say the ability to choose causes they care about is very important to a positive donation experience, and 30% say the reason they choose NOT to give through the workplace is due to the fact the causes they care about are not available as choices.听

By offering charitable choice through workplace giving, your company empowers its employees to funnel financial support to the social issues and nonprofits that reflect their personal values and ideologies. And by giving employees your workplace giving program as a mechanism to make those donations, you are also听.

You and your employees don鈥檛 have to agree on the issues or even the best ways to affect change, but everyone should agree that supporting causes is both a smart way to advocate and a sustainable way to achieve impact.

2. Paid Time Off to Volunteer (VTO)

68% of our survey respondents say that it is imperative or very important that their employers provide them with paid time off to volunteer.

Encouraging employees to leave the office and serve the community positions your brand as caring and demonstrates its commitment to the community and social impact. And more than 70% of employees who volunteer at work report feeling better about their employer as a result, according to a听. While the exact number of VTO hours varies from company to company, even just offering one day of VTO can dramatically improve employee loyalty and demonstrate your company鈥檚 commitment to the community.

3. Employer Donation Matching

Whereas the open choice employee giving program we mentioned in #1 empowers employees to support nonprofits that match their passions, offering to match those employees鈥� donations is a great way for your company to communicate to employees that 鈥渨e value and support YOU鈥攔egardless of your favorite charities or personal ideologies.鈥� If giving enables your employees鈥� activism鈥攁nd is in effect your organization鈥檚 own advocacy鈥攖hen matching their donations goes the extra step by matching their passions with deeper (financial) support from the organization. It also looks great for your company鈥檚 social impact.

58% of 精东影业鈥檚 Charities鈥� Snapshot Employee Donor Research respondents say it is imperative or very important that the company match employees鈥� personal donations with corporate funds. If you鈥檙e looking for some programs to model yours after, here are听ten well-known companies doing it right. You don鈥檛 have to be a Fortune 500 to offer matching gifts though. Between 精东影业鈥檚 Charities鈥� suite of four employee giving technology options and funds management services,听we can empower companies large and small听to support their employees and show their commitment to the community.

4. Dollars for Doers Volunteer Grants

Employees view their employers as facilitators and multipliers for their own philanthropic efforts, with 47%听of survey respondents saying it is important for the company to provide a grant to the nonprofit in recognition of the employees鈥� volunteer service.

This unique policy takes VTO a step further and can help companies听provide employees with a sense of meaning at work. While your company isn鈥檛 necessarily paying its employees time off to volunteer, through a Dollars for Doers program your company agrees to match each employees鈥� hours of volunteering with a set monetary donation.

5. Employee Affinity Groups or Employee Resource Groups (ERG)

Known by many names鈥攃aucuses, councils, or networking groups鈥擡RGs serve social functions and provide a source of support for employees who share common interests, goals, or ideologies. Today many large companies have ERGs for employees of color, LGBTQ employees, women, and so on with the goal of making the workplace more inclusive and supportive of diversity.

Innovative companies can use ERGs as a way to facilitate a safe, constructive dialogue in the workplace where employees can go beyond debate and focus on discussing actionable ways to address and solve major social issues including gun violence, climate change, mental health, and sexual harassment.

6. Leadership Buy-in

One of the top six trends听听revealed is that without leadership support, employee engagement programs are likely to lack authenticity and fail. Employees are keenly aware if leadership at all levels is authentically involved or not. It鈥檚 not enough to say giving of time, money, and skills are important. Leadership must be involved in those efforts as well. Employee engagement and workplace giving programs must be embedded in a company鈥檚 culture, values, and actions. You need to look no further than the听听for proof of this. Download our free brief to learn how to听build buy-in from leadership.

The rise of employee activism presents new challenges for companies in striking the right balance between engaging their employees in issues that matter to them, staying true to their corporate mission and values, and being a force for social good. Leveraging your employee giving and volunteer programs and other efforts provide a platform to give your employees a voice in addressing the social causes that matter to them.

The post How Businesses Can be a Force for Good in an Era of Employee Activism appeared first on 精东影业's Charities.

There are several reasons why businesses choose to partner with charities. Among them, providing financial support through workplace giving, matching gifts, and volunteer time are effective and critically important ways for companies to demonstrate their commitment to the community. And leveraging those initiatives to engage employees can also help businesses accomplish recruitment and retention objectives and other corporate philanthropy goals. But strong business-nonprofit partnerships can also facilitate and achieve mutual goals in more creative ways, as is the case with a unique collaboration between ServiceSource and AARP.

After presenting at an annual Strategic Planning Session for , a leading 501(c)(3) nonprofit disability resource organization, Kim Young, Vice President of Business Development at (ServiceSource鈥檚 workplace giving partner), learned about this collaboration between ServiceSource and AARP, the nation鈥檚 largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering 精东影业ns 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. While most people are familiar with AARP鈥檚 work, you might not be as familiar with ServiceSource鈥檚 work. And that is precisely what made AARP鈥檚 initiative supporting ServiceSource so valuable.

With regional offices and programs located in 11 states and the District of Columbia, ServiceSource provides a wide range of customized programs for individuals, families, employers and corporate partners. The organization鈥檚 proven collaborative approach helps foster a more inclusive and supportive community where individuals with disabilities can succeed and thrive. Educating and engaging elected officials is a critical element of ServiceSource鈥檚 work, particularly for programs like , which is a vital connection to resources and support for veterans with disabilities as they seek employment, self-sufficiency and improved quality of life. In the last fiscal year, ServiceSource served 671 veterans with disabilities through a range of support services, directly hired 69 veterans, and placed 105 veterans in community employment. In response to an overwhelming need for coordination among veteran-serving organizations, Warrior Bridge works to facilitate greater collaboration among government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private sector employers. One of the opportunities ServiceSource faces is increasing the visibility of its organization and Warrior Bridge program with stakeholders, media, and the public.

鈥淓nsuring that local, state, and federal representatives know the who, what, where, why, and how of ServiceSource, and how we favorably impact constituents in their districts is pivotal to our work,鈥� said Frank DeLucia, ServiceSource鈥檚 Florida vice president of program development. 鈥淲e attend and work numerous legislative receptions and forums, public hearings, meet and greets, open houses, and town halls; join and contribute to pertinent coalitions, task forces, Chamber and trade functions; help representatives鈥� constituents meet emergency housing, health, and work-related needs; and invite officials to meet our participants and tour our programs.鈥�

In January 2018, U. S. Congressman Gus Bilirakis visited ServiceSource鈥檚 Veterans Mall, a storeroom of kitchen, bath, and bedroom essentials and job interview clothes given for free to injured veterans who are transitioning from homelessness to community living. These veterans are referred from the Bill Young and James Haley VA Hospitals.

Among those who welcomed and toured with Bilirakis was AARP Associate State Director of Communications, Colleen Krepstekies, a guest of retired U. S. Army Major and Homes For Independence board member Scott Macksam. Krepstekies was so taken with the Mall that she offered to help publicize its good works.

A Three-pronged Plan Tried and True

Wasting no time, Krepstekies came up with a three-pronged plan to generate awareness for ServiceSource and its Warrior Bridge program. She would:

1. Underwrite and produce a documentary for ServiceSource and post it on AARP鈥檚 website and Facebook page,
2. Explore partnering and sponsoring events benefiting ServiceSource Florida, and
3. Script and share ServiceSource鈥檚 story on AARP鈥檚 web site splash page.

Krepstekies asked the ServiceSource team to select key stakeholders to interview, and had her production crew tour the Mall and familiarize themselves with their programs.

ServiceSource arranged for the following constituents and stakeholders to be filmed and interviewed:

• Mall Founder Virginia Meyer
• Warrior Bridge Program Manager Grant Collins
• Veterans Paul Mabry and Mario Chambers
• Significant grantors of the Mall – Bank of 精东影业鈥檚 Assistant Vice President and Operations Manager Stewart Taijeron, and Duke Energy鈥檚 Sr. Communications Consultant Peveeta Persaud
• Volunteers, and
• Publicist Rob Sumner

Within a span of three weeks, the Krepstekies-led production team recorded hours of interviews, voiceovers, and B-roll, rolling out the final published piece, which you can watch at: .

鈥淔ew endorsements are more powerful than independent, third-party testimonials from veterans, volunteers, and funders underscoring our program鈥檚 impact,鈥� said DeLucia. 鈥淗aving stakeholders tell the 鈥楽erviceSource Story鈥� and hearing how it鈥檚 enriched lives is very rewarding and inspiring. AARP鈥檚 documentary gives us the vehicle to deliver passionate messages in a succinct, professional manner.鈥澨�

More than a Documentary: the Beginning of a Relationship

Being chosen to participate in the documentary sent a strong signal to key stakeholders that ServiceSource values their time, talents, and contributions. It further engaged and emboldened stakeholders by allowing them to express in their own words why they invest so much fiscal and physical energy in ServiceSource鈥檚 mission benefiting veterans with disabilities.

It also helped ServiceSource give recognition to partners like Bank of 精东影业 and Duke Energy, both of which have invested substantial dollars and pro bono labor in support of the Mall, which recently served its 2,000th formerly homeless veteran.

Not long after completing the documentary, Krepstekies announced that ServiceSource had been selected as the charitable beneficiary of AARP鈥檚 sponsorship of the 2018 MacDill AFB AirFest. A two-time winner of the 鈥楤est Military Air Show鈥�, AirFest is one of the largest air shows in the Department of Defense. MacDill鈥檚 air show is held each year to highlight the missions, traditions and heritage of the military services. The two-day event is hosted by a variety of civilian and military aerobatics demonstration teams.

At the event, AARP recognized ServiceSource鈥檚 local impact, presenting them with a $5,000 check and giving ServiceSource a unique opportunity to talk about their work, including Warrior Bridge, through media interviews. Krepstekies fulfilled another commitment when her $5,000 gift entitled AARP to serve as the presenting sponsor of the 2018 ServiceSource Service Excellence Awards Luncheon, at which she and AARP were honored as the Community Partner of the Year.

鈥淲ith more than 188,000 veterans in the Tampa Bay area, this event is a great opportunity to engage with the veteran and military community,鈥� said Krepstekies. 鈥淎ARP has about 4 million members who are veterans and as the largest nonprofit, non-partisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older, we can be a resource by partnering with local organizations [like ServiceSource] that can make a direct impact in the community.鈥�

Working Together Strategically and Creatively to Achieve Mutual Goals

Limited resources often hinder a nonprofit organization鈥檚 ability to effectively exhibit the full value and need for their work, but that鈥檚 where corporate-nonprofit collaborations like that between AARP and ServiceSource come into play. By thinking more strategically and creatively about how to address nonprofits鈥� ongoing resource challenges, the private sector can improve nonprofit impact and performance.

鈥淐ompanies shouldn鈥檛 look at their work with nonprofits as transactional events but rather as building a relationship with a trusted 鈥済o to鈥� partner that is working to achieve mutual goals,鈥� as one nonprofit survey participant stated in 精东影业鈥檚 Charities Snapshot Nonprofit Research, Rising Tide of Expectations: Corporate Giving, Employee Engagement and Impact.

There are many ways the private sector can support charities, with various levels of commitment in terms of time, money and resources. The exact strategies, nonprofit partnerships, and collaborative approaches taken will ultimately depend on a combination of what resources businesses have to offer, what type of impact they want to make, and which causes align with their values.

Not sure how to get started? Contact 精东影业鈥檚 Charities鈥� team of expert advisors. From assessing your social responsibility and employee engagement programs to strategy development, implementation, and measurement, 精东影业鈥檚 Charities can provide your company with best practices and an actionable plan to help align nonprofit support with your employee engagement program and CSR goals.

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Founded 47 years ago by attorneys Morris Dees and Joseph Levin, the SPLC used newly passed civil rights laws to dismantle remnants of Jim Crow in the Deep South. In the ensuing years, the SPLC shut down some of the nation鈥檚 most violent white supremacist groups by winning crushing, multimillion-dollar jury verdicts on behalf of their victims. It has reformed juvenile justice practices; shattered barriers to equality for women, children, the LGBT community, and the disabled; protected immigrant workers and the poor from exploitation; and more.

At this moment in 精东影业n history when our country is so deeply divided, the work of the SPLC is more vital than ever.

Fighting Hate

The SPLC defines a hate group as an organization that 鈥� based on its official statements or principles, the statements of its leaders, or its activities 鈥� has beliefs or practices that attack or malign an entire class of people, typically for their immutable characteristics. Often, but not always, hateful speech incites violence and sometimes is considered evidence of a hate crime. During 2017, our Intelligence Project tracked 954 hate groups and published our annual report depicting the location and ideology of the groups. This is the third year in a row that the number of hate groups has increased, most notably among anti-Muslim groups.

The SPLC has taken the following steps, among others, to combat this rising tide of extremism:

• Litigating against the worst of these groups in a manner similar to lawsuits the SPLC has used to win crippling court judgments against 10 major white supremacist organizations and 50 individuals who led them or participated in violent acts. Most recently, for example, we鈥檝e sued Andrew Anglin, the founder of the most heavily trafficked neo-Nazi website, who orchestrated a harassment campaign that has relentlessly terrorized a Jewish woman and her family with anti-Semitic threats and messages.
• Distributing new 鈥渞oll call鈥� training videos to more than 40,000 law enforcement officers across the country to help them recognize, respond to, and report hate crimes properly and promptly. Our training videos also help law enforcement officers prepare for hate group rallies in their local communities.
• Holding Silicon Valley companies accountable to their own rules forbidding hate groups from exploiting their services to raise money and spread demonizing propaganda that radicalizes young people and encourages violence.

Teaching Tolerance

The SPLC鈥檚 project provides free anti-bias educational materials such as webinars, lesson plans, professional development, and other classroom resources. The SPLC has taken several steps to support schools that are feeling the consequences of inflamed racial and ethnic tensions:

• Distributing free resources designed to help teachers and school administrators counter harmful stereotypes and stop the bullying and harassment of children whose races, ethnicities, and religions are targeted by hateful rhetoric.
• Providing educators with practical advice and strategies to help them support children of immigrants and immigrant children who may be affected by anti-immigrant policies and sentiment.
• Launching Teaching Tolerance鈥檚 most recent initiative, , to address the fact that the majority of students leave school without an adequate understanding of the role slavery played in the development of the United States 鈥� or how its legacies still influence us today.

Seeking Justice

The SPLC stands up in court for the powerless, the exploited, and other victims of discrimination and hate. With a staff of more than 100 lawyers and legal advocates, the SPLC focuses on impactful litigation in these five practice areas: immigrant justice; economic justice; criminal justice reform; LGBT rights; and children鈥檚 rights. 听Examples of our current projects include:

• Representing immigrants caught in the nation鈥檚 deportation machine with pro bono legal services at five detention centers in the Southeast as part of our (SIFI).
• Exposing the abuse of prisoners stemming from mass incarceration policies and the exploitative, for-profit prison industry.
• Using legislation and litigation to reform the criminal justice system and eliminate excessive court fees, modern-day debtors鈥� prisons, and other practices that unfairly punish or exploit the poor.

These are a just a few of the ways the SPLC continues听to promote and protect our nation鈥檚 most cherished ideals and stand up for those who have no other champions. Whether this mission takes the SPLC into the courts, the classroom, or elsewhere, it remains devoted to creating a better future by fighting hate, teaching tolerance, and seeking justice.

Support SPLC听through your employee giving听program:

As a donor, you can support SPLC by donating to them through your employer鈥檚 workplace giving program听(CFC#10352听if you’re a military or federal employee participating in the Combined Federal Campaign).听Payroll pledges made through employer-sponsored charitable giving programs represent a cost effective and near effortless way to support your favorite charities.

As SPLC’s听workplace giving partner, 精东影业鈥檚 Charities can help your company design and implement a program centered on supporting their work – through workplace giving campaigns, employee fundraising, cause-focused signature programs, volunteerism, donation drives, matching gifts, Dollars-for-Doers, In-Kind Giving and other employee engagement and philanthropic initiatives.听Click here听to request a demo and learn how we can help you do this.

The post The Southern Poverty Law Center: Advocating for the Powerless appeared first on 精东影业's Charities.

AMVETS National Headquarters, July 13, 2018听鈥� has recently joined efforts with Objective Zero, a nonprofit organization that anonymously connects veterans to suicide prevention resources and a community of mentors, counselors, and veterans through a mobile application.

The partnership follows the release of a June 18 Department of Veterans Affairs report that analyzed veteran suicide data for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. AMVETS launched its HEAL Program in March 2018 for the purpose of connecting veterans to the appropriate level and type of healthcare they need, which includes mental health services in many cases.

鈥淲e strive to help heal the whole veteran, whether it involves a broken bone, a diabetic condition, or a need for cancer treatment,鈥� said AMVETS Chief Medical Executive Lana McKenzie. 鈥淏ut the invisible conditions such as depression, TBI, and PTSD, are often overlooked and become risk factors for suicide. We want to close the gaps in understanding and awareness by adding a new tool to our holistic approach.鈥�

About AMVETS

Founded more than 70 years ago, AMVETS has more than 250,000 members across the United States.鈥疶he non-profit organization鈥檚 mission is to鈥痚nhance and safeguard the entitlements for all 精东影业n Veterans who have served honorably, including the National Guard and Reserve, and to improve the quality of life for all veterans, their families, and the communities where they live through leadership, advocacy and services.听

Support AMVETS National Service Foundation听through your employee giving听program:

As 听workplace giving partner, 精东影业鈥檚 Charities can help your company design and implement a program centered on supporting their work – through workplace giving campaigns, employee fundraising, cause-focused signature programs, volunteerism, donation drives, matching gifts, Dollars-for-Doers, In-Kind Giving and other employee engagement and philanthropic initiatives.听Click here听to request a demo and learn how we can help you do this.

The post AMVETS Joins Forces With Objective Zero to Confront Veteran Suicide appeared first on 精东影业's Charities.