Idea Forum: Creating Effective Programs That Engage Your Entire Company
By Nancy Medin, HR Director GCG Financial

Since our founding in 1975, GCG Financial has been committed to making a difference in the communities in which we live and work, with many associates active in local activities, religious organizations and charitable organizations.

Like most organizations, we strive to make teamwork a part of our daily business. After attending a Companies That Care seminar and hearing ideas that other companies have employed to create teamwork, I became the founder and champion of our new volunteer program at GCG Financial. Built on the tradition of giving back to the community and with the goal of involving as many employee volunteers as possible, our Generous Community Giving (GCG) program was launched in January 2004 and since that time, we have organized and participated in more than 50 volunteer projects in the Chicago area.

Each year, we divide the company into 12 teams - each assigned a month for volunteer participation. A Team Checklist provides organizational criteria for the successful implementation of their project, including the selection of a Team Leader to act as primary contact and overseer, and a Team Evaluator to assess progress and create materials for inclusion in GCG’s monthly newsletter. A Team Committee investigates and makes recommendations on appropriate projects based on team member skill sets and the group’s goals, such as direct or indirect service to the community.

Teams are subsidized with a discretionary $250 and meet weekly to plan their project. To encourage participation, employees earn an additional day off in which to volunteer at their team’s event. In the 2½ years since our involvement with Companies That Care and our GCG Generous Community Giving program’s inception, employees have participated in diverse projects such as a company sponsored blood drive, Habitat for Humanity, Brian’s Hike for Hope, Adoption Exchange, Elmwood School Book Drive, a holiday party for an inner city school and the Relay for Life.

Clearly, our corporate goal of engendering teambuilding within our organization and helping our community to grow and prosper has been a success and a welcome tool in creating a meaningful work-life balance for our employees and a deepening bond within our community that GCG is a company that cares.