Helping our community – as individuals and as a company – is simply the right thing to do. Being recognized for improving the quality of life in the communities where we do business is an honor that we don’t take lightly. Last night GroundFloor Media and CenterTable joined 49 other civic-minded businesses as we were presented with the first Civic 50 Colorado award, recognizing the companies that set the standard for superior corporate citizenship in our state.
What does this mean? CSR Solutions of Colorado and Points of Light, the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service, use an evaluation tool that measures corporate civic involvement based on a company’s commitment of time, skills and resources and how those tangible and intangible gifts positively impact their communities. Our collective scores will serve as a benchmark to help other companies increase their own social responsibility efforts.
The benchmark numbers were impressive, proving that the Colorado business community is up to the task of becoming one of the most civic-minded in the nation. According the survey, 51% of employees at Civic 50 Colorado companies participate in external company-sponsored volunteerism compared to 43% of employees at Civic 50 national honoree companies. Last year alone, Civic 50 Colorado honorees contributed $37 million in cash contributions and their employees volunteered an estimated 400,000 hours.
There is nothing better than the moment the awards were announced and so many clients, partners and friends that we admire were named as award winners. IMA Financial Group, Core Contractors, i-Orthodontics, DaVita, Molson Coors, Xcel Energy, COPIC, and so many others – you inspire us. One of our fellow award winners said it best: “It takes a damn village. Get involved.”
Our community impact is part of our culture and our company DNA. Even when we first opened our (unfinished basement) doors in Boulder back in 2001, we felt drawn to serving others and to making our communities just a bit better – in whatever small ways we could find.
Now we have the Get Grounded Foundation, which offers grants to nonprofits helping at-risk youth in Denver, and empowers our team members to use paid time off each month to volunteer with non-profit organizations that they are passionate about through the Get Grounded volunteer program. We became a certified B Corporation® several years ago and our leaders spend time talking with other business leaders about the importance of building community, giving back and being of service.
I am grateful that we are able to make even a small difference in the lives of others and honored that we were recognized alongside such a fun group of businesses out there doing well by doing good.
Want to learn more about the Get Grounded Foundation, our B Corp certification or other ways your business can make a positive impact on its community? Give us a shout at connect@groundfloormedia.com – we’d love to connect.
