[Chrissy Scivicque]

The holidays are just around the corner and this is a great time to participate in charitable activities. If you'd like to help those in need, we have some easy ways to get your whole office involved. Learn what others are doing and share your own activities with the OA community.

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[kfoley311]

I think the best program I have ever participated in was during my employment with Johns Hopkins University. Instead of purchasing gifts and exchanging, we pooled our funds and bought toys(for kids) and coffee (for adults) at our local Ronald McDonald house. We checked with the House manager to determine what items were really needed before we shopped. It was the best use of Christmas funds.. and to me, I enjoyed it better than a party.

[annemarieh]

At Morgan Stanley, we have a one-month charitable giving drive that includes company matching programs to thousands of non-profits throughout the country. They will even match monetary donations to qualified volunteer hours by employees! In my specific district, we are having a competition between all locations for a company sponsored pizza party for all locations with 100% participation, and a Casual Friday for everyone who donates.

[mbraune]

I have to share the name of this charity that really made me stop and think. Its called birhdaywishes.org and they provide birthday parties for children in shelters. I read about them in one of my Parent magazines, (yes, I am one of those mommies!)and it really touched me.
We have for the last 2 years given to a charity in the name of our family members instead of shipping off the many, many plastic toys and games. My daughter gets to choose (she is 4 going on 14...) the charity from a list I compile and tell her about and she didn't even stop to think about this one, she knew right away that she wanted to donate to birthdaywishes.org. Of course we have to keep telling her that she won't be going to the parties though!

Maria Braune
Senior Account Manager
RollCall Business Conferencing

[kgarcia]

My office supports a different local charity every month. I contact the charity and get a wish list. I then type up a flyer and attach it to a box in our reception area. We have collected for the local Animal Shelter, the Childrens Foster Care Home, the Autistic Foundation, Homebound Seniors, etc. Our clients/customers like to see who we are supporting each month and some even donate too. This month we are adopting a family at Myrtle Beach Haven. It is a homeless shelter for families. It is a transitional shelter that keeps the family unit intact and helps the parents find jobs and permanent housing. It's been fun helping out 12 months a year not just at Christmas time. My company is only three years old and we have been doing this for the last two years. We accomplish all this with only about 10 employees.