What makes a business not just a “good neighbor” but an asset to its community and region? There are several criteria but perhaps most important is a corporation’s respect for community institutions and a willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty to help the community in which it conducts business.
Clearly, large companies have the capacity to give a great deal back to the community in the form of jobs and sizable corporate and employee donations. For instance Ingram’s would be remiss if we did not mention Sprint in our profile of area corporate champions. Last year, Sprint gave approximately $8.3 million in donations to the community in the form of corporate donations, employee-driven donations and in-kind donations—a fantastic amount by any measure.
But there is more to it than size. As Ingram’s told readers last month, our aim with this feature is to provide a snapshot of some of the companies in the Kansas City metro area that, pound-for-pound, give well beyond the norm and contribute selflessly to the needs of our community.
To that end, we devised a formula that arrives at a per-employee giving ratio. For instance, Sprint breaks down to about $500 per employee (of 17,460 employees in the Kansas City area) in philanthropic investment flowing back into the community. Again, a remarkable amount of giving any way you look at it.
There are several companies operating in the Kansas City area that do their share for the community, year after year, often going unrecognized for it. These are companies that successfully and consistently make a profit, are able to keep as many jobs as possible in the greater Kansas City area and, most importantly, invest heavily in the community in which they serve. In this first edition of what Ingram’s intends to make an annual tradition, we profile six local companies of varying sizes that truly fit the image of a corporate champion.
Although these are just a sampling of the many great corporate citizens we have in Kansas City, the companies profiled here deserve recognition as Corporate Champions. It is the hope of Ingram’s that by recognizing the philanthropic efforts of these local businesses, other companies will follow suit and step forward to fulfill their duties as solid contributors to the Kansas City area and perhaps be one of our 2006 Corporate Champions.
Straub Construction
Several of the giving employees at Straub Construction.
It’s not surprising to see this noble, “small-but-spunky” business claim a spot in our Corporate Champions list. Since 1920, Straub’s motto has been “Quality Assured.” Though meant to apply to the company’s commitment to building quality projects, it could also be said of the company’s philanthropic efforts. Last year, Straub invested an incredible $4,700 per employee back into the community—a stunning amount for a company of any size but tremendous for one with a workforce of only 60 good people.
Straub Construction credits its ability to be so generous to a combination of honest financial gain and a caring workforce. In addition to supporting a large number of charities, Straub also assists with community projects and in-dividuals. As one example, Straub Construction recently worked with Michael Cowal, a Mill Valley High School sophomore who was paralyzed during football practice last fall. Working with vendors and subcontractors, Straub helped transform Michael’s home into an accessible living space.
Exhibiting both business professionalism and strong corporate citizenship, Straub and its employees take pride in helping to support their community. The Kansas City area definitely benefits from the contributions of this exceptional corporate citizen.
Lockton Companies
Lockton employees gather for a photo following a bike tour to raise funds for the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Even as this insurance brokerage firm works to protect its clients, it also works diligently to maintain its reputation as an outstanding corporate citizen. Lockton gave more than $1 million in philanthropic investment last year, which breaks down to an impressive $1,436 per employee in the region.
Lockton provides annual support to numerous area non-profit organizations such as the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Boy Scouts of America. In addition, Lockton is equally generous with its facilities and resources, often hosting events and coordinating communications and involvement for local charities. Employees are encouraged to apply work hours to charitable efforts when needed, so much so that philanthropic activity is an innate part of the corporate culture. Recent charity events that have drawn over 100 volunteer hours from Lockton employees include the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life Event and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk.
As for employee satisfaction, Lockton’s employee retention level speaks for itself. This year, Lockton will celebrate service anniversaries for 340 Associates who have served with the company for a minimum of five years, 120 of those with a minimum of ten years or more. Community involvement, regular monetary and in-kind donations, as well as employee longevity, all help establish Lockton as a considerable champion in Kansas City’s corporate community.
J.E. Dunn Construction
David Disney, head of J.E. Dunn’s Education Division volunteers at University Academy.
Operating in the Kansas City area since 1924, family-owned J.E. Dunn Construction asserts on its home page that “value, not money, is the time-tested way to make a lasting impression.” And J.E. Dunn recognizes not just the value of keeping satisfied customers and loyal employees, but also the value of community involvement. Overall, J.E. Dunn Construction and its employees invests well in excess of $1,000 for each of more than 1,400 area employees back into the Kansas City philanthropic community. Remarkably, J.E. Dunn is committed to donating 10 percent of pretax earnings to the community every year. In addition to the United Way, the employer and employees alike donate money and services to more than 400 other charitable organizations. Dunn representatives also serve on many community boards, such as Midwest Research Institute, the Bishop Spencer Place Foundation, Children’s Mercy Hospital and the Shawnee Mission Medical Center Foundation to name just a few. J.E. Dunn has also been a strong supporter of the Economic Development Council and the Chamber of Commerce for a number of years.
Boasting 80 years of operation and a business based on repeat customers and referrals, J.E. Dunn Construction has proven itself as not just a corporate success story, but also as a heavily involved and supportive member of its community.
Cable-Dahmer Chevrolet
Cable-Dahmer’s A.C.E.S. Committee discusses upcoming community projects.
Cable-Dahmer Chevrolet has only been serving the greater Kansas City area since 1988 but has been the No. 1 Chevrolet dealer in the area for nine years in a row. Auto Age 500 ranked it as one of the top 500 dealerships in the United States.
But even as Cable-Dahmer boasts a strong, continuous growth rate it has also grown as a good corporate citizen. The dollar amount of Cable-Dahmer donations might seem modest when compared with much larger companies, but broken down by Ingram’s formula, the company gives in excess of $500 per employee back to the community. Most of the money is used to help local high schools in areas where funding may be lacking.
The company’s community support is reflected in its membership with the Chamber of Commerce and its involvement with projects such as the Noland Road Improvement District. Cable-Dahmer is also active with community youth and education programs, such as Newspapers in Education and the Chevy R.O.C.K. Program (Reaching Out to Communities & Kids). The A.C.E.S. (Awareness of Customer and Employee Satisfaction) committee meets every month to discuss community projects such as Harvesters and Toys for Tots.
In its relatively short, seventeen-year lifespan, Cable-Dahmer has not only proven itself as a fast-growing and successful automobile dealership, but also as a true community leader and corporate champion in the Kansas City area. Not only is Cable-Dahmer Kansas City’s largest minority-owned business, they’re also among the the premier class of Ingram’s Corporate Champions.
American Family Insurance
American Family President Dave Anderson (rigth) and VP of Sales Ranger Duran present Barbara Wurtzler a $50,000 contribution for Success by 6 United Way early childhood development program.
Good corporate citizenship is not based solely on financial donations, but also on the non-cash, in-kind donations it makes to its surrounding community. American Family Insurance, active in Missouri since 1939 and specifically in the St. Joseph area since 1957, certainly makes its share of donations. The auto, home, business, life and health insurance company donated almost $500 per employee and area agents in 2004. Overall, American Family gave more than $500,000 in philanthropic investment, including a recent special donation of $250,000 to six different charities in the St. Joseph area.
But, often a company’s more tangible, in-kind donations stand out, such as American Family’s corporate sponsorship of Project S.O.S., a program that raises money for school clothes and supplies for underprivileged children in the Kansas City area. With American Family’s help, Project S.O.S. supplied over 8,000 back-to-school kits to district metro-area schools and youth services agencies, including Associated Youth Services, Independence Head Start and the Salvation Army. Through its straight corporate donations, its strong support of community-based organizations and the involvement of agents and employees in these organizations and other community fundraising projects, American Family Insurance exemplifies how a true corporate citizen supports and gives back to the community in which it serves.
Citi Cards
Citi Cards employees and volunteers gather for the 2004 AIDs Walk
This Northland call center is one of the finest examples of an organization committed to philanthropic donation. The company and its 2,300 energetic employees in the 20-county area last year combined to donate almost $900,000 in philanthropic investment. Overall, that comes out to approximately $400 per employee. When you consider the industry averages for compensation structure in the call center industry, this becomes a major commitment from Citi Card employees and the entireorganization.
The company’s commitment is a year-round, full-time effort. Citi Cards targets a different philanthropic campaign on a monthly basis. For example, last year Citi repaired 14 homes as part of a Christmas in October campaign. The company is also a strong supporter of various charities and events, including the Duck Derby benefit and the United Way, for which Citi Cards raised over $240,000 in 2004.
Citi Cards employees not only donate their money, but also their time to the surrounding community, volunteering to serve on such dissimilar boards as the United Way, Chambers of Commerce and the Kansas City Repertory Theater. These organizations and several others served by Citi employees work toward the revitalization and further enrichment of the Kansas City area and its citizens.
In all its efforts, Citi Cards works to improve the greater Kansas City metro area through the application of its business wisdom and a desire to make a difference within organizations it supports and in the community at large.
IS YOUR COMPANY A CORPORATE CHAMPION ?
Many companies give great amounts to their respective communities. But Ingram’s believes there is more to being a good corporate citizen than financial donations, though the importance of monetary donations can never be underestimated.
For this first edition of Ingram’s Corporate Champions, we set forth a set of criteria that takes into account not only what a company gives but also the people and industry at its core. Roughly, we outlined that to be nominated as a Corporate Champion a company must:
- Consistently make a profit;
- Be involved in an industry that is useful and contributes to the common good of the comminity;
- Have employees who feel secure and appreciated and who enjoy working at their companies;
- Keep as many jobs as possible in the greater Kansas City area;
- Make a conscious effort to fit into the community, or in other words, acts as a “good neighbor” and a good corporate citizen; and
- Be a good team player in the advancement of the metropolitan area.
Perhaps your company plays the role of a Corporate Champion, much like these Sprint employees who volunteered their time to build a playground at Kiddie Kollege in Kansas City, Kan.
With your help, Ingram’s will continue to identify and recognize the many corporate champions in our community, from the larger businesses who have been active in the Kansas City area to the smaller and newer companies who are trying to mark their presence while serving their community. We invite you to join Ingram’s and encourage businesses throughout the region to become a solid corporate citizen. Together we’ll build the Corporate Champions program to become a valued annual tradition for many years to come. (email your recommendations to Editorial@IngramsOnLine.com)