Companies Giving Back To The Community | Green Living

Whether it?s donating time and materials, working with children and animals, or providing education and support?giving back to the community is a gift that keeps on giving. These companies have made community outreach a priority, and a part of their company culture.

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American Clay provides natural, non-toxic, environmentally friendly interior wall finishes as an alternative to paint, wallpaper, or other more common finishes. The company has been involved in community outreach projects since its inception in 2002 in New Mexico. American Clay products, which are free of chemicals and volatile organic compounds, are found in buildings at Arizona State University, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and numerous others around the country.

The Phoenix Dream Center is one of American Clay?s community outreach projects. The Center is a non-profit organization that ?exists to serve homeless, low-income and struggling individuals and families by providing resources, opportunities and supportive services to help them realize their dream of living a self-sufficient life.? The facility was founded in 2006 and serves over 40,000 people each month. When the opportunity presented itself, American Clay was willing to give their talents to the worthy cause. americanclay.com | phxdreamcenter.org

Sun Harvest Solar was founded by Brandon Cheshire in 2009. The company designs and installs solar systems throughout the state.

Sun Harvest?s community efforts have reached a large number of organizations including Greenpeace, the Sierra Club, National Defense Council, and the National Wildlife Federation. Locally, the company installed the solar system at Valle del Sol in Phoenix, a non-profit organization that works with families and individuals to ?meet their needs through behavior health, human services and leadership development programs.?

Future plans for community outreach and involvement include working with the City of Glendale to educate the public on saving energy and money, and green conservation issues.

Cheshire says his company has hired a Chief Sustainability Officer and will be focusing on community outreach and environmental education in 2013. ??Sun Harvest is all about being a change for what we want to see in the world?about altruism and transparency, education and conservation, [and] sustainability,? he said. sunharvest-us.com | valledelsol.com

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In 2010, Pima Federal Credit Union began a community stewardship program to focus on ??doing right? by the community. Since the inception, Pima Federal employees have donated over 1,200 hours each subsequent year through events that were organized internally, and doesn?t include the time employees gave on their own.

Pima Federal?s ?Community Partnership? efforts have impacted community food banks, Pima Animal Care Center, Habitat for Humanity, and numerous other organizations. Creating a sense of purpose, the community stewardship program allows employees to volunteer in the community during work hours, according to Beverly Armendariz, director of human resources, enabling employees to take on projects as their own.

Rob Elias, vice president of marketing, says plans for continued community involvement in 2013 include community giving, monetary donations to causes or organizations such as youth teams or tournaments, financial literacy education, and reaching out to schools through Junior Achievement.

Pima Federal won a Community Impact Award in 2012. ?We?re a bunch of employees who volunteer our time because that?s what we?re passionate about,? said Elias. ?Pimafcu.org

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Ken Edwins of Sonoran Ridge, a branch office of MetLife, has made community involvement a personal commitment. He has been involved in Rancho Feliz Charitable Foundation, Race for the Cure and most recently, Fusion Foundation and Team Casey.

The Fusion Foundation raises money to put together bikes for donation to children. Providing bikes, helmets and riding instruction, the foundation gave away 300 bikes in 2012 to local and military families.

An avid bike rider, Edwins is putting together a team to ride in this year?s PF Chang Rock-n-Roll Marathon to raise money for Team Casey, an organization that raises money for children with cancer to provide books, games, and other items to bring joy to the children.

?Team Casey is a wonderful opportunity to give back and have an impact on children?s lives,? Edwins said.

Through Sonoran Ridge, staff, family and friends have gotten involved to impact the community. Edwins said that the emphasis for 2013 will be on a concentrated local effort, but they are also reaching out internationally to Butterfly Home in Nepal, which provides a safe place for children whose parents have been imprisoned. Sonoran-ridge.com | Ken Edwins

Source: http://www.greenlivingaz.com/2013/02/13/companies-giving-back/