In his 1989 inaugural address, President George H. W. Bush called upon the nation to make a difference in the lives of others through hands-on volunteerism. He spoke of “a thousand points of light, of all the community organizations that are spread throughout the nation, doing good,” as commendable models for civic engagement. Little did the President know, however, that these words he uttered many years ago would have such an impact on the corporate world. At the time of this speech, informal volunteering had long been a part of the workplace in the United States, but formalized programs were only just in their infancy.
When President Bush founded the Points of Light Foundation in 1990, I was working for Disney and we had a single volunteer program at Disneyland Resort called the Disneyland Community Action Team. So when President Bush appointed then Disney CEO Michael Eisner as a founding board member, this act was not only transformational for Disney and Michael, but for me personally. Michael got behind the Points of Light movement in a big way. I was tasked with taking our single Disneyland program, rebranding it Disney VoluntEARS, and growing it globally. Through this experience, I saw firsthand how the Points of Light movement can help companies succeed in promoting volunteerism. Today, Disney VoluntEARS is recognized as one of the leading workplace volunteer programs in the world.
We were honored that President Bush launched his Daily Points of Light Awards at the Walt Disney World Resort and then revisited to celebrate Points of Light’s 10th Anniversary at Epcot. He also presided over the Awards for Excellence in Workplace Volunteer Program dinner at the Disneyland Hotel in conjunction with the Volunteer Center of Orange County. Thousands of Disney VoluntEARS have given countless hours to the community over the years – much of it helping children in need through in school reading programs, with Boys & Girls Clubs and at children’s hospitals thanks in part to the vision of President Bush and Michael Eisner.
Employee volunteering takes many forms – team projects, one day service projects, ongoing mentoring programs, pro-bono work, among others. Reimaging Service is working to increase the impact of volunteering through new concepts including that of a service enterprise. Employee volunteering is not just for big corporations, but for any size organization. Most people work for small and medium sized businesses. I’ve seen effective programs at companies as small as five people. Points of Light’s employee volunteering efforts have been in place from the start, helping companies of all sizes by training, sharing best practices and showcasing opportunities with the aim of program creation that creates a more effective and united workplace in way that makes a meaningful community impact. Through the National Council on Workplace Volunteerism (now the Corporate Service Council) and locally through Volunteer Centers, HandsOn Action Centers and Corporate Volunteer Councils, resources are available for all companies to get involved.
Employee volunteering is a win-win-win proposition for a company, its employees and the community. If framed strategically and properly implemented, these programs will create value, not an added burden in ways such as reputation, customer service, productivity, recruitment and retention; the employees’ pride in the company, positive morale, leadership development and skill building; and to the community through problem solving and community building with intellectual capital, compassion and extra hands.
As we celebrate tonight’s Kennedy Center Points of Light Tribute to the legacy of President George H. W. Bush and his vision for a world where talent and energy are harnessed for good, we remember how a single phrase, “a thousand points of light,” powered the nation’s largest volunteerism movement. So too can a single employee make a difference through direct engagement and motivate a workplace to do the same. Employee volunteers can and do create positive change, selflessly working to solve some of the most challenging situations that communities face, and working to create not only a better world, but a world that will be better for businesses, jobs and economies. For healthy communities and enlightened businesses, let’s not just keep President Bush’s dream alive, let’s help to advance it. With millions of people in the nation’s workforce, is there not a better place to plant the seeds of charity? Visit www.pointsoflight.org for more on this amazing organization.