For many people work is a four-letter word. Their job is just a
job, and when five o’clock strikes they don’t think about it again
until the harsh jarring of the alarm clock makes them.
For employees of several companies in the South Valley, work is
a way to do more than their job.
For many people work is a four-letter word. Their job is just a job, and when five o’clock strikes they don’t think about it again until the harsh jarring of the alarm clock makes them.
For employees of several companies in the South Valley, work is a way to do more than their job.
It’s a way to give something back to their communities by donating their time, energy and, at times, money through volunteering.
In their own, individual ways, these employees and the companies at which they work are changing their towns – one small step at a time.
Milgard Windows – Hollister:
Milgard Windows has had a strong community presence since its inception in 1986. The company has a corporate program called Matching Gift Community Activities Team (MG/CAT), which coordinates volunteering for its employees.
The Hollister location has set a MG/CAT goal for 2004 to, in some way, shape or form, have every one of its 355 employees volunteer in a community activity, Human Resources Manager Rik McCoy said.
“We take the greatest asset this community has to offer and that’s the people,” McCoy said. “It’s something that from the very beginning is ingrained. It’s part of our philosophy – that we need to give back to the community.”
Milgard employees spend time cleaning local parks, helping disseminate food with the Community Pantry, support the United Way, Jovenes de Antano, the League of United Latin America Citizens (LULAC), and myriad other civic and nonprofit organizations in the community.
While volunteering isn’t mandatory, the company does afford its employees time off as an incentive to give back. When employees see first-hand how their contributions impact people’s lives, they are usually more than willing to expend the extra effort – whether it’s on company time or their own, McCoy said.
“Our kids are being raised here, our employees live here. If we can give back to make this a better place for everybody to live, I think that’s part of our obligation,” he said. “It’s a pride thing.”
San Benito Land Title Corp. – Hollister:
Volunteering in the community has been a source of pride for employees of San Benito Land Title since they arrived in Hollister in 1989.
To witness the commitment a local company has in its people is important, not only for the community, but for business also, said Barbara Cosio, director of business development.
If someone is deciding on a title company, they will be more inclined to choose one that shows a desire for community involvement, she said.
“You know that they’re family-oriented, that they’re going to give extra time and work out there in the community,” she said. “Then naturally they’re going to be concerned about my interests and my concerns, living in the community.”
San Benito Land Title’s employees are involved with the Relay for Life, Small Steps (an organization that helps clothe less-fortunate children), the winter Lights on Parade and the YMCA.
Having a strong volunteer base within the company not only helps bring in business, but it makes the workplace a better environment for the employees, Cosio said.
“I’ve heard (employees) say, ‘Oh, I just love to come to work here,’ ” she said.
Companies with a strong-knit, employee-volunteer base start at the top and trickle down. When the managers are excited and motivated to get out in the community, it will affect their employees, she said.
“I’ve been here for 45 years, and I want to make this a better community for my grandchildren,” she said. “You put your whole heart into it … and you feel so great because it makes people happy.”
Graniterock – Gilroy:
For 104 years, along with supplying the area with high-quality construction products, Graniterock has supplied much more with the community assistance and volunteering their employees provide. About six years ago, Graniterock formalized its volunteer commitment with the Community Action Volunteers (CAV) program, which gave some structure to the time, energy and money the company supplies to the community.
It supports everything from the large monetary donations to the United Way, local schools, athletics, and much, much more.
“Graniterock has always been a generous company,” said Mike Cook, division manager of quality services. “The need in the community exceeds every dollar that we have and what every other organization has. Bottom line, we try to do the best with what we have.”
Volunteering is strongly encouraged at the company, with employees in managerial positions measured on nine corporate objectives – one called Community Contribution and Responsibility that focuses on volunteering, said Jim West, public affairs manager.
Owner Bruce Woolpert expresses to his managers that he wants his employees involved, and it is up to them to facilitate that involvement, West said.
“We recognize when people are involved,” he said. “(Employees) find a way to do what they want to do.”
Community activities that employees are involved in and employees care about are important to the company to get behind and support, said Mike Kennedy, the Gilroy/Hollister building materials manager.
“If a Graniterock person thinks enough of the cause to donate his time, then we think it ought to be funded,” Kennedy said. “With a partnership between a company and its people, your community’s going to get better over time.”
Whether it’s monetary support, helping construct a playground or supplying the materials for a new softball field, in the long run, Graniterock’s backing of its employees creates an environment conducive only for success.
“It gives people a real sense of ownership of the company,” West said. “It solidifies the fell that work isn’t something separate from where they live. It’s the same community.”
Wal-Mart – Gilroy:
As one of the largest employers in the country, Wal-Mart is dedicated to doing something good with its extensive resources – both financially and in terms of people.
The Good Works program includes scholarships, different types of grants and volunteerism by its employees.
The 220 employees at the Gilroy Wal-Mart are encouraged but not mandated to donate their time to help nonprofit groups in the community – whatever it may be.
“It makes you feel good that you’re helping people,” invoice clerk Jan Gonzales said. “It’s something we do on our own – it comes from the heart.”
One section of the Good Works program includes matching grants, in which the company matches an amount of money raised at a particular fund-raiser.
“An associate goes, helps with the fund-raiser, and however much they make then we match it,” Gonzales said.
The knowledge that the company will back a cause an associate feels strongly about helps boost morale around the workplace, which in turn benefits everyone, Assistant Manager Linda Bowen said.
“It keeps that community pride,” Bowen said. “It just goes back to the community and I think they like that. It’s their community, their town.”
That sense of pride radiates throughout the entire crew at Wal-Mart, even to the people that don’t have time in their schedules to volunteer, Co-manager Sharlene Imes said.
“Wal-Mart is just like your family,” Imes said. “You’re going to do anything you can do to help. That’s what the Wal-Mart family is like.”
Anritsu – Morgan Hill:
As one of the leading producers in the field of electronics and information networks, Anritsu’s presence in Morgan Hill is more than technological advancements.
It donates monetarily to more than 30 non-profits and contributes in sponsoring 13 community events and programs such as the Taste of Morgan Hill and the Vision Morgan Hill Leadership Program.
While it doesn’t concentrate on company-involved employee volunteering, the company does encourage its employees to get involved in the community.
Many of Anritsu’s employees spend their own time giving back, said Gina Varela-Faust, corporate communications manager.
“Because the area’s pretty small and tight-knit, we want to be able to not just have our employees work here, but become a part of the community,” Varela-Faust said. “Then we get to actually see the fruits of our labor.”
After working for the company for three years, Varela-Faust has recently become more active in the community, which has opened her eyes to the positive aspects of volunteering – both personally and collectively.
“Before I lived here but I worked elsewhere,” she said. “Now I see the difference first hand in the programs and the organizations (I volunteer in). I’m a part of making a difference.”
South Valley National Bank – Morgan Hill:
One of its founding principles was community involvement, which makes it easy to see how 20 years later, South Valley National Bank has become a role model for giving back to its community.
Most of the 22 bank employees are heavily involved in the Morgan Hill Community Foundation, Community Solutions, Relay for Life and a long list of other community activities, said Jeff Perkins, senior vice president and regional manager.
Volunteering is not required, but it is expected, Perkins said.
“Once you get started and the people around you are involved, it’s very contagious,” he said.
The bank and its employees take great pride in bolstering an atmosphere of pride and involvement throughout the entire community – something that can only happen in a small town, Perkins said.
“It helps the town accomplish its goals. It’s one of the real strengths of a small town,” he said. “It’s what makes (Morgan Hill) a great place to live and work – that everybody helps each other. You don’t find that in a big city.”
Volunteering not only helps the town as a whole, but it helps facilitate communication and friendships between people at the bank who might not get to know one another in the workplace.
It also helps boost customer-relations, because when the employees are out in the community more, residents are more likely to put their trust in South Valley National Bank as a company.
“It puts people on a different level,” Perkins said. “Everybody wins.”
