Giving Back in the Workplace
As an organization with a mission statement of creating opportunities and improving lives, the DriveTime Family of Brands finds it incredibly important to not only offer volunteer opportunities for employees but to also establish lasting partnerships with nonprofits.
By definition, a nonprofit organization is one that qualifies for tax-exempt status by the IRS because its mission and purpose are to further a social cause and provide a public benefit. These businesses must serve the public good in some way.
It is through nonprofits that awareness, research and aid reach the people who need it most impacting the communities they serve and beyond. Volunteering is vital to nonprofits with one-third of the nonprofit workforce being comprised of volunteers. And by being part of that impact, DriveTime Family employees get to invest in the communities where they live and work.
A New Chapter in Corporate Giving
The Brand Family started the Give for Good program to allow employees the opportunity to live out the company’s mission statement through volunteer events, organization-wide drives, and the donating of company funds. Currently, Employee Engagement Specialist, Shulamit Resendez, is the driving force behind the company’s nonprofit partnerships and philanthropic events.
“Giving back has been an important part of my life,” she said. “A big part of my role consists of owning our partnerships with nonprofits in addition to the social media and communications side of things.”
Give for Good has four charity segments: Fight Against Poverty, Future of Education, Military and Veteran Support and Child Health. These pillars were established long before Give for Good launched and continue to guide volunteer opportunities today.
“Our partnerships fall under this umbrella that defines our Give for Good program,” Shulamit said. “We have made a few adjustments in the past year, including updating the location of our new hire quarterly volunteering visits and how we conduct our summer intern giving back sessions.”
These changes were made thanks to feedback from employees. Ensuring the company is offering opportunities that people are excited about is a big part of the job for Shulamit.
“I’m grateful for the current partnerships we have established and that we continue to do really awesome things with them. I would love to continue to make deeper partnerships with the people who continue to come our way; there are so many incredible nonprofits doing so many great things,” she said.
Beyond Our Walls
For Charles Curry, Senior Assistant Director of Process Management, volunteerism is part of who he is. As a board member of a local humane society, Charles enjoys spending his free time with furry friends looking for their forever homes.
“My role as a board member is all-encompassing. When I’m physically there on the weekends, I’m doing a lot of enrichment, things like minor training, exercise, taking photos of the animals to boost adoption interest, and just in general helping the shelter staff,” he shared.
Partnering with Shulamit and Give for Good, Charles extended his passion for volunteering to the workplace. Team members at the Dallas Home Office volunteered at the shelter, enriching the lives of the animals awaiting adoption.
“When I say I volunteer at a shelter, people automatically assume that I’m cleaning kennels 24/7 or that the work is always hands-on,” Charles said. “In reality, that’s just a portion of the job. There are ways to volunteer not just at an animal shelter, but anywhere, utilizing what you’re skilled at. Whether it’s using excel to help with reports or building enrichment toys for animals, there are multiple different ways to get involved and make a difference.”
Give for Good was designed to give every employee the opportunity to give back in a way they feel good about. Whether it be walking a pup, serving food at a homeless shelter, or donating an old winter coat, the most important part of volunteering is just participating. If you would like to get more involved in Give for Good, visit the Link page and stay tuned for upcoming initiatives!
