Corporate Social Responsibility – Helping Alabama

Good morning Everyone! 

So many people in the Southeast have been affected by the tornadoes that torn through our area last week!  I'm noticing that there is a lot of compassion for our neighbors and everyday we hear another amazing story...both happy and sad. 

There is always a need if we look, but right now we certainly don't have to look very hard or long to see it!  I have a lot of respect and admiration for those people who are taking vacation time to help out and also to companies who are allowing their employee to volunteer without docking time! 

Thank you ___(your name here )________ for stepping up and helping out!  My hat is off to you!

I wanted to copy in an article that our Debbie Szafran wrote on Social Responsibility..I thought it was very timely.  Without further ado...Here's Debbie!

If companies throughout the nation are looking for ways to appeal to their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) mission, Alabama’s recent devastation, due to tornado damage, is a place to begin.

Companies can give back to these communities through donations of money, supplies, time and talent. Many companies now include CSR as part of their meetings, conventions and incentive programs. Participants often express how rewarding it is to not only attend, but to bring hope to communities in need.

According to Convention South and a recent Edelman Global Consumer Survey, “67 percent of Americans believe it is no longer enough for corporations to simply give money away to a good cause, but they also need to integrate good causes into their day-to-day business. And, 61 percent of Americans have a better opinion of corporations that integrate good causes into their business, regardless of the reasons they do so.”

Alabama companies can reach out by requesting their company host the next national or regional meeting in the Tuscaloosa or Birmingham area. This not only brings additional revenue to the area, but there is also opportunity to bring attendees who are willing to provide service. Corporations have been known to rebuild homes, raise money for schools, restore parks by planting new trees, donate food to shelters, and the list goes on.

CSR can have a tremendous impact on the health of our planet and the well-being of people. Information on local causes that best fit your group activity can be determined through meeting and incentive companies and the local Convention Visitor’s Bureau.  Reach out today, and let’s help our area begin to recover through CSR opportunities.

Sutton & Associates, a division of Alabama World Travel, is a full service incentive travel and meeting planning company offering creation and design, site selection, contract negotiations, management, production, and on-site supervision. For more information, go to www.suttonplanning.com.