“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
– Norman MacEwan
Dozens of non-profit organizations throughout the state are struggling to meet the needs of thousands of clients. With missions ranging from feeding the homeless to finding cures for diseases, the common denominator seems to be that the need is always greater than the available resources.
While most of these charitable organizations traditionally rely on for profit businesses as their primary source of funding, they are finding the economy has severely handicapped their ability to generate the needed support.
According to a recent study by Boston College, 38 percent of companies cut their cash donations this year while those companies hit hardest by the recession spent 59 percent less on philanthropy.
“This is the time for companies to step up and be even more aggressive with their corporate giving,” stated Charlie Nguyen, director of the Southern Nevada campus of the University of Phoenix. Nguyen, who has worked hard to create a company culture of giving, demonstrates his commitment to the community through the creation of various programs within the university.
“Giving back to the community is a privilege and an obligation,” said Nguyen. “Standing on the sidelines when we witness so much need in the communities we serve has never been an option for the University of Phoenix. We believe in building a community, not only through education, but also through partnerships with local non profit groups.”
As an executive, Nguyen understands the importance of planning and leading by example. In June, he and his staff formalized their corporate giving policy by developing a strategy and a plan for getting everyone involved in the process of donating time and resources.
Because volunteer labor is often as important as cash donations, the University of Phoenix not only raises funds and collects needed items, but also encourages its 142 employees to donate their time. One measure of the university’s dedication is that each employee is paid for time off to devote to volunteer work. In addition, the more than 10,000 Nevada students of the university are encouraged to get involved.
“Its amazing how much we can improve our community when we get everyone involved,” said Nguyen, who, along with his six directors, serves on numerous boards of charitable organizations. “We’re proud of the difference we’re making in our state, and our team is proud to be associated with an organization that is part of the solution,” he continued.
A recent poll conducted by GlobeScan found that a company’s reputation, and its traditions and values, were the two primary reasons for engaging in corporate citizenship activities. But, according the Nguyen, the primary reason for giving back is that “it’s simply that it’s the right thing to do.”
