I M BETTER TOGETHER 23rd Annual IMPACT Awards P A The Virtual C T Experience he Corporate Volunteer Council of Award is Gas South. The company’s Be a Fuel justice work by organizing an employee meet-up Atlanta (CVC) is recognizing Atlan- for Good program engages employees in work for the local protests for social justice. T ta’s most philanthropic companies in that promotes equity for all. Recently, this was The finalist in the Social Justice IMPACT Award a time when service to the community is of par- driven by the civil unrest and protests regard- is Southern Company Gas where the diversity ticular need. As the only annual awards program ing policing in black communities. Gas South and inclusion department developed a robust set of its kind, the annual IMPACT Awards raises responded by communicating solidarity with of tools and programming in response to recent up the work of Atlanta’s most altruistic corporate the Black Lives Matter movement and making events. The company’s foundation also recently citizens that are making our city a better place to external statements on social media platforms donated $1 million to Morehouse School of Medi- live through volunteerism. The IMPACT Awards as well as in an email to business partners. The cine toward academic expansion and efforts to are judged by a national panel of Corporate Social company aligned its words with action by donat- provide greater equity in healthcare. Responsibility (CSR) professionals outside the ing $100,000 to four social justice organizations: Atlanta market and, while awards are given to indi- The Partnership for Southern Equity, Color of Skills-Based Volunteerism vidual companies, the CVC’s collaborative spirit is Change, ACLU- Georgia and Southern Center for IMPACT Award always at the heart of its vast reach. In its 23rd year, Human Rights. Gas South also instructed its lob- This award is presented to a company that lever- the 2020 IMPACT Award winners and finalists are: byist to fight for the Hate Crime legislation in ages the specific skills of its employees to help a Georgia. To give employees a place to discuss nonprofit accomplish its organizational goals. Social Justice IMPACT Award and process their emotions, Gas South held The winner of the Skills-Based Volunteerism This award will be presented to a company that Community Conversations and gave employees IMPACT Award is NCR Corporation. The company addressed social justice in a bold and innovative the opportunity to give to social justice organi- leveraged its talent to help Inspirededu, which gives way in the period between January 1, 2019 and zations via a virtual campaign. It also took its donated PCs to Atlanta-area Title 1 schools. With a July 1, 2020. commitment a step further by providing employ- The winner of the Social Justice IMPACT ees a chance to physically participate in social CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 TURNING CORPORATIONS ACTS OF CHALLENGE INTO AND ANTI-RACISM KINDNESS OPPORTUNITY PAGE 4 PAGE 9 PAGE 7 PAGE 2 A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO ATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE SEPTEMBER 18-24, 2020 Director’s Note he Corporate Volunteer Council of Atlanta (CVC) I hope that you find inspiration in reading about what CVC supports member companies to deliver business members are doing to support Atlanta in the midst of COVID- T results through their strategic commitment to civic 19, economic strain and social injustice and join us in taking engagement and social impact. CVC members meet regularly positive action. As American educator and legend Helen to share best practices, strengthen community investment Keller once said, “Alone we can do so little; Together we can strategies and make a difference through service. do so much.” To learn more, please visit www.cvcofatlanta. Metro Atlanta companies continue to evolve in the ways org or reach out to me on LinkedIn @cherylkortemeier. they support community. Though it is challenging for volunteer groups to come together in person this year, com- Cheryl Kortemeier, Executive Director panies are finding new and innovative ways to lend support CVC of Atlanta where it is needed most. The CVC is here to connect those @ckort companies so that they can learn from one another. @cvcofatlanta A Letter From The President Dear CVC Members and Friends, our group’s culture, but our reputation challenging community needs. We As 2020 began, naturally came all of and achievements as well.” can make an impact right here in our the discussions of clarity. Hindsight is The CVC of Atlanta supports our community by listening, learning and 2020…Perfect Vision…2020 was prime members’ efforts and strategic commit- continuing to work together. for a good speech. And then 2020 really ment to workplace volunteerism, racial We recently recognized some of that got started and the Atlanta community inclusion and civic engagement. Since work with our 23rd Annual Impact that we all knew changed. Gone was the 1992, the CVC of Atlanta has been bring- Awards, our first ever virtual awards Atlanta traffic, the commute times and ing together business professionals who program, the only program of its kind in the school buses and in their place a are passionate about creating a mean- Atlanta to recognize excellence in corpo- new normal that we are all still zooming ingful community impact to share best rate volunteerism and civic engagement. towards. One thing remained the same, practices, strengthen community invest- You can read more about the great work Atlanta companies continued to come ment strategies and make a difference. these organizations and our members together to support our community. One of the key benefits of the CVC are doing in this special publication. “Impact 2020” takes a minute to cel- of Atlanta is being part of a community I hope you will also take the oppor- ebrate a year unlike any other and the of like-minded individuals and orga- tunity to visit our website at www. impacts of the more than 100 organiza- our greatest assets. In 2019, our board nizations focused on meaningful and cvcofatlanta.org to learn more about tions that are members of the Corporate approved a formal diversity and inclusion sustainable change. Over the years, I the CVC of Atlanta. On the behalf of Volunteer Council of Atlanta (CVC). Our policy which says it best, “Our members have seen amazing examples of that the entire membership, I invite you to members are leading the way in Metro are the most valuable asset that we have. among our members, but even more this join us and to collaborate with us to Atlanta with efforts to address the most The collective sum of the individual dif- year as we continue to collaborate and Connect, Inspire and Impact. important societal issues by developing ferences, life experiences, knowledge, innovate in our remote environment. and implementing programs to posi- inventiveness, innovation, self-expres- Companies are utilizing the strengths, Sara Simonds tively impact our community. sion, unique capabilities and talent that expertise and resources of each organi- 2020 CVC of Atlanta Board President The CVC has long valued diversity our members invest in our organization zation and bringing together the right Senior Manager and inclusion and feels that it is one of represents a significant part of not only people needed to tackle even the most Deloitte CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 ered through a fleet of Mercedes-Benz projects, and lawyers and paralegals recent influx of PC requests driven by Sprinter vans. The company also repur- provided 71,000 hours of pro bono legal the pandemic, the nonprofit needed to posed its cafeteria to provide 1,000 service to low-income individuals, non- upgrade its VoIP network. NCR stepped meals a week to PAWKids and Second profits and community causes. The firm in to manage the project, partnering with Helpings Atlanta and initiated Thank- also partners with clients on joint proj- other leading technology companies, ful Thursdays to acknowledge the ects that support affordable housing, that all also donated expertise and equip- Sandy Springs police and fire depart- business literacy and leadership skills ment. Inspired edu’s VoIP network is now ments by catering meals from different for high school students and assist non- able to handle the volume of requests local restaurants each week. profits with legal issues. coming in, with extra capacity for future The finalist of the IMPACT Corporate anticipated needs. This project enhanced IMPACT Corporate Volunteer Volunteer Program of the Year is IHG. NCR’s ongoing relationship with Program of the Year The company launched its True Hos- Inspirededu, which includes donating This award is presented to an employee pitality for Good program in 2018 and more than 2,000 PCs to the organiza- volunteer program that effectively inte- has formed charitable partnerships that tions over the past five years. grates volunteerism into the company’s deliver action in hospitality skills build- The finalist in the Skills-Based business culture. ing, disaster relief and environmental Volunteerism IMPACT Award is Mer- The winner of the IMPACT Corpo- sustainability. Its Giving for Good month cedes-Benz USA, which supported rate Volunteer Program of the Year is encourages employees to make a positive Atlanta metro residents during the pan- King & Spalding, which formalized its difference in the community and for every demic by launching Curbside Caring, community program in 1994. Under the colleague that gets involved, IHG makes an initiative of the company’s Great- leadership of volunteer councils, the a donation to one of four global causes on ness Lives Here community outreach firm participates in a variety of commu- their behalf. In 2019, 160,000 participated program. From April through October, nity and pro bono activities.