Business Volunteers Maryland

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Elf Week

About Elf Week  

Every year, the Salvation Army Angel Tree program collects and distributes toys and clothing to thousands of children during the holidays. This year, more than 3,000 children from 1,000 families have registered for the program in the Baltimore area.

In December, thousands of donations pour into the Salvation Army’s warehouse, where they need to be sorted for each child (or “Angel”) in the program. This is where Business Volunteers Maryland comes in—we recruit hundreds of volunteers to be part of “Elf Week” and come together to be a part of it all. 

By registering for Elf Week, your team will be treated to the following:  

  • Heartwarming experience to give back to children in need  
  • An unforgettable opportunity to bring your team together  
  • Instagram-worthy moments  
  • Elf hats 
  • Team photos  
  • Planning and project management from an experienced staff. We handle all the details so you can have a fun-filled experience!
  • The option to volunteer with your family! Children may attend, but each child under age 16 must volunteer alongside an adult.
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Elf Week Location 

Elf Week is held at the Salvation Army Warehouse in Waverly. 

Salvation Army Offices | 400 E 29th St, Baltimore, MD 21218

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Information & Shift Request Form

Completing this form does not confirm your registration. Business Volunteers will be in touch shortly to confirm your day/time selection and process payment. We look forward to seeing you and your team!

ABOUT BUSINESS VOLUNTEERS MARYLAND

Business Volunteers Maryland (BVM) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to build a stronger community by inspiring, educating, and connecting people and businesses to meaningful volunteer and civic leadership opportunities. Since 2003, we have connected more than 200,000 individuals from local businesses and the community at large to volunteer and serve on nonprofit boards. This has resulted in more than $40 million of time and talent being infused into Central Maryland. To learn more, visit https://businessvolunteersmd.org.

QUESTIONS? Contact Danyette Young dyoung@businessvolunteersmd.org.

Testimonials

SC&H Group

“BVM has helped SC&H Group connect with the community in numerous and meaningful ways throughout our long standing relationship. Additionally, the insights and perspectives that BVM has brought to the table as a trusted advisor during the development and ongoing execution of SC&H’s strategic plan around community engagement has been indispensable. Our partnership with the BVM team continues to position SC&H for success when it comes to giving back and making an impact in the community.”

Jeffrey M. Klima
Director

Laureate

“It is very easy to lose perspective of all the good your company does when you are caught up in the day-to-day obligations of your primary job. By participating in the company’s days of service I’m able to truly appreciate all the good things we bring to the communities we are located in. You can’t help but feel good about yourself after helping transform a local school and getting to see the reaction of the children when they see their transformed playgrounds, classrooms, and technology centers.”

Bill Shoul
Director of Business Operations

TEKsystems

“Going through the GIVE Fellowship left me with tools to be able to perform my job more effectively, the way I approach ‘problems’, or moments that need solutions are definitely different. GIVE brings perspective and tools for creating lasting impact, not just putting a band-aid on something and calling it a day.”

Alice Zients
CSR and Employee Experience

SECU

“SECU’s partnership with BVM is the best investment our team could have ever made to bring our community engagement strategies to the next level. Before we worked with BVM, we spent far too many hours talking about possible ways we could grow and elevate our outreach initiatives. We felt confident in our engagement, but we needed help organizing our priorities and strategies. BVM listened and helped point us in the direction we’ve been looking to take for so long.”

Amanda Parsley
Sr. Community Outreach Specialist

imre

“Our partnership with BVM has reinforced the camaraderie at our agency.  They were integral in lining up non-profits that allowed our group to practice empathy and give back whilst
working alongside one another.  BVM was with us through every step of our journey and during our events, created a sense of intimacy and sharing between staff.  Our employees are still buzzing about their experience and the impact they were able to make!”

Dave Imre
CEO and Founder

Walden University

“I deeply enjoyed my skillCONNECT experience. It provided a unique and fun opportunity to dust off some of my currently under-used skills and training for good. I witnessed how much value and opportunity bubbles up when (intentional and unintentional) pathways are created between humans who are striving to improve the lives of our neighbors and communities. I look forward to my next one!”

Molly Raymond, MSW
Associate Director

Bikemore

“As an Executive Director of a small, growing non-profit organization it can be difficult to dedicate the amount of time necessary to build a highly effective board. By consistently connecting us with highly qualified professionals ready to serve, Business Volunteers has allowed us to grow our board quickly and efficiently. Their services also allow you to connect with a broader network of board prospects. Selecting board members based on mutual interests and  qualifications and not  preexisting relationships is critical to ensure your board is diverse and better connected to all of Baltimore.”

Liz Walsh
Executive Director

doing good. better. with Julie Kernan

ABOUT DOING GOOD. BETTER. WITH JULIE KERNAN
Julie Kernan, former President and CEO of Business Volunteers Maryland, sits down with community engagement champions for micro conversations about how they do good. better in the region. In this podcast series, Julie uncovers what drives these leaders to give back through witty stories and reflections. You will get to know some of the most recognized faces in the community on a completely different level in these engaging chats.

EPISODES

Episode #001 | Ron Causey
Episode #002 | Ojeda Hall
Episode #003 | John Hoey
Episode #004 | Van Brooks
Episode #005 | Bradie Barr
Episode #006 | Adam Smith
Episode #007 | Julie Kernan (bonus episode)
Episode #008 | Alissa Ganser

EPISODE #001 | Ron Causey

In the inaugural episode, Julie sits down with Ron Causey, founder of SC&H Group and chair of the Business Volunteers Maryland Board of Directors. Ron discusses how he began his personal community engagement journey which culminated in service to seven nonprofit boards. He also shares advice on how to begin community engagement initiatives within your own organization.

doing good. better. Episode #002

EPISODE #002 | Ojeda Hall

In our second episode, Julie sits down with Ojeda Hall, Executive Director, Maryland, D.C. & Virginia, One Love Foundation. Ojeda shares how the COVID-19 Pandemic has shifted the way she is doing good. better. both personally and professionally. Julie and Ojeda dive deep into how the past year has challenged us in all facets of life- particularly in the arena related to belonging, diversity, equity, and inclusion. They close out their discussion recapping the legacy of Yeardley Love and how individuals and the community can Move for Love during their Yards for Yeardley Fundraising campaign that concludes on May 3, 2021.

EPISODE #003 | John Hoey

John Hoey, CEO of The Y in Central Maryland and Business Volunteers Maryland Board Member, connects with Julie in a spirited discussion on John’s transition from the private sector to leading one of the most recognizable nonprofits in our Region. John shares his perspective on how professional skills and talent can be transferrable to any industry. Finally, he recounts a few weeks in late 2020 that changed the trajectory of the Y in Central Maryland thanks to a rather odd email and a generous multi-million-dollar gift from Mackenzie Scott.

EPISODE #004 | Van Brooks

Van Brooks, Founder of The Safe Alternative Foundation for Education (SAFE), connects with Julie in a thoughtful discussion on how a traumatic high school football injury led Van to begin a youth focused community organization. Van shares how the organization has adapted during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing essential resources for students learning virtually. Finally, Van shares how the organization is planning for the future as they prepare to open a new workforce development center.

EPISODE #005 | Bradie Barr

Julie sits down with Bradie Barr, President of Transamerica Stable Value Solutions and friend of Business Volunteers Maryland, for a candid conversation around Baltimore, community engagement, board service, and leadership development. Bradie explains how her grandmother inspired her life motto of “see a need, meet a need” and how that has influenced her board interests and other community engagement work. If you are a Baltimore transplant, you want to listen to this episode.

EPISODE #006 | Adam Smith

For nearly 20 years, Laureate International Universities and Business Volunteers Maryland have worked together to make mission aligned connections to Baltimore City Public Schools and nonprofits. Julie sits down with Adam Smith, Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer to discuss the roots of our partnership. Adam expands on our joint milestones while sharing how Laureate has navigated a global pandemic and social discourse while still fostering a culture of corporate community engagement.

EPISODE #007 | Julie Kernan

Adam Smith, Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer at Laureate International Universities takes over as host of doing good. better. Julie is in the ‘hot seat’ as she shares her reflections of what lead her to Business Volunteers Maryland and what businesses in the Central Maryland Region can get out of mission aligned community engagement strategies. From skilled volunteering to direct service, Business Volunteers Maryland handles all the details. You don’t want to miss this conversation between two community champions.

EPISODE #008 | Alissa Ganser

Doing good. better is a series of micro-conversations with business and community leaders who are committed to making Baltimore a better place to live and work. We use this forum to focus on good news stories, introducing our followers to people they should get to know in deeper and more meaningful ways.

In this final episode of doing good. better with Julie Kernan, we flip the script. At the time of recording this episode, Business Volunteers had announced Julie’s retirement, with Alissa Ganser to succeed her role as President and CEO. This segment allowed Alissa to share more about her professional journey and some insight into what she loves about her work and about Baltimore.

Case Studies

SC&H Group has a robust history of giving back to the community and was an original founding partner of Business Volunteers Maryland in 2003.  Since the inception of Business Volunteers, SC&H has been a proud supporter and partners with BVM on various programs and services such as strategic community engagement consulting, SCH’s annual Day of Service, nonprofit board matching, civic leadership training, and the GIVE Fellowship program.

Challenge & Opportunities:  SC&H has been engaging in the community for years, however they were not tracking all of their goodwill and they were unable to quantify the true impact of their giving or the amount of value they were providing to the community.  They knew they were doing all of the right things, but they did not have specific strategy or documentation to ‘Tell Their Story’.

Background:  SC&H is passionate about giving back to the communities they serve and make it a priority to contribute to a wide range of charitable programs and events through volunteering, charitable donations, and sponsorships. Many of SC&H’s employees also volunteer their time and expertise by serving as board members of leading regional and national nonprofit organizations.

In 2007, SC&H in partnership with BVM, began holding an annual Day of Service to give back to the community by engaging all employees.  They select ten to twelve nonprofit organizations annually that align with SC&H’s corporate values – employees work in teams to complete projects that range from working with children with disabilities to building sheds for horses and everything in between. SC&H’s areas of focus typically include humanitarian efforts, animal rescue, education, and the environment. In several cases, their employees have continued to work with the organizations well beyond the Day of Service itself.

Solution: In 2019, recognizing all the important work they do in the community in a variety of different ways, SC&H identified three strategic goals to advance its company-wide community engagement strategy and began a multi-year consulting engagement with BVM to support them in achieving these goals:

  • A detailed strategy that streamlines their efforts in the community to maximize benefits of their community engagements efforts.
  • A comprehensive system that measures the impact of their community engagement efforts to allow them to share their impact with their employees and stakeholders.
  • Empower groups of employees to provide long-term leadership of community engagement efforts and implementation of goals.

Outcome: In just a short time, SC&H has achieved these goals and more.  Please see here for SC&H’s most recent Community Impact Report and how they are “Making Their Impact Count” serving the communities where they live and work.  We look forward to our continued partnership with SC&H as they deepen and expand their community engagement efforts.

VOLUNTEERING: Good for the community, good for your health

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In April 2020, Business Volunteers Maryland President and CEO Julie Kernan reflected on how the COVID-19 pandemic upended our lives- personally and professionally.

“I am optimistic the way we are living today is not our new “normal,” and whatever our new normal is, I believe we will be gentler with ourselves and our neighbor,” she wrote. “The silver lining to the COVID storm cloud is the development of a greater commitment to caring for others through volunteering and community engagement.”

Our team has been continuously inspired by the way our business and nonprofit partners have pivoted programs and volunteer opportunities to keep constituents safe. Volunteers tremendously help nonprofits, but also, volunteering makes a huge impact on those individuals that donate their time.

One study by United Healthcare found that 78% of American adults who volunteer said that it has made them feel less stressed, which left them with lower stress levels and better mood than adults who don’t volunteer. It is undeniable that coming together around a positive cause and giving back improves mood and decreases stress. Now, more than ever, our communities are yearning for opportunities to connect with individuals and community.

Important ways to get involved this holiday season: consider donating to Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program! The Salvation Army Angel Tree program helps provide Christmas gifts for hundreds of thousands of children around the country each year. You can donate gifts through their Amazon wish list.

Or if you’d rather volunteer your time in person, consider signing up to help sort through all their presents in their warehouse (LINK ).

For our business partners, Business Volunteers is thrilled to announce the dates of our annual Elf Week with the Salvation Army, December 7-11, 2020. We recruit hundreds of volunteers to be part of “Elf Week” and come together to be a part of it all. It is our most fun and festive event of the year!

2019 Elf Week at Salvation Army with partners, BGE.

2019 Elf Week at Salvation Army with partners, BGE.

BVM has been running this program for 16 years, and every year looks a little bit different. We are so excited that we have been able to figure out a way to still make an impact this year on so many lives in our community, while remaining safe in the pandemic.

Your business teams are missing interaction with each other. This is a perfect way to gather them AND give back to the community.

For more information about sponsorship opportunities and how to get involved in Elf Week, contact Melissa Hersh, mhersh@businsessvolunteersmd.org.

Baltimore Business Journal recognizes community efforts

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You’ve heard of six degrees of separation, right? The 2020 Baltimore Business Journal Better Baltimore Awards is a Who’s Who of our friends and partners. While we were not directly recognized, we are so proud that nine of our business and nonprofit partners made the list for “making Baltimore better.”

Business Volunteers envisions a future in which all individuals and businesses in Baltimore are engaged and investing in building strong and thriving communities. By working with over 50 businesses to make their community engagement more strategic and impactful, we act as a connector to build the capacity and fill mission critical needs in over 150 unique Regional nonprofits each year.

SC&H Group, a long-term partner and “consumer” of Business Volunteers’ services, was recognized in the small/medium company category. The article mentions that last year, 192 SC&H employees volunteered at eight different organizations, resulting in 768 volunteer hours in one day. That day was facilitated and supported by Business Volunteers Maryland.

Ron Causey welcomes guests to the 2019 Business Volunteers Business Impact Summit. 

“SC&H has used Business Volunteers Maryland to direct its efforts and connect the company with nonprofits in need of its employees’ skills,” Ron Causey, SC&H CEO, and board chair for Business Volunteers Maryland noted. In addition to SC&H, Aerotek, BGE, M&T Bank, T. Rowe Price, and Venable were all recognized for their contributions to the community. Representatives from each of these organizations currently hold a position on our board of directors and many also have at least one representative in the 2020 GIVE Class (GIVE is a fellowship program for emerging community leaders, programmed and hosted by BVM).

BGE and Business Volunteers recently collaborated with Code in the Schools to deliver a virtual Team Volunteer Project for 100 high school and college interns. Participants assembled 2,500 Squishy Circuit kits that will be distributed to elementary school students by Baltimore City Recreation and Parks. Squishy Circuits are circuits made from play dough, modeling clay, LED lights, a battery, and connection wire encouraging skills helpful in STEM classes and professions.

The connections do not stop with the corporate award winners. Many of our nonprofit partners were also recognized for their contributions to the community, including the Maryland Food Bank, Moveable Feast, and Volunteering Untapped.  It is an honor to be affiliated to organizations making such an impact in the communities where we work and live.

Congratulations to all the organizations recognized in this year’s list. We are thrilled to be a partner with you and grateful for your efforts of doing good. better. in the community.

If your organization is looking to be more strategic with your community engagement initiatives, contact Business Volunteers today.

Why Volunteering Is a Great Team-Building Activity

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You understand the benefits of volunteering for your company and reputation in the community, but did you know that it is also one of the most powerful team-building activities you can engage in? Here are some of the many reasons why volunteering is an awesome team-building activity for almost any team.

Bonding as a Group

Even if you work with each other every day, how many opportunities do you get to connect with your team members in a positive environment outside of the office? If the sum of your experience with your co-workers happens during meetings or brainstorming sessions, co-workers will never truly get to know each other. Volunteering changes the venue for interactions and allows people to bond and get to know each other without the pressures of an office environment.

Doing Good is Good for Stress Levels

Team-building activities that involve a ropes course or trust exercises that might make stress levels rise can backfire and leave employees feeling stressed out and embarrassed. However, coming together around a positive cause and giving back improves mood and decreases stress. One study by United Healthcare found that 78% of American adults who volunteer said that it has made them feel less stressed, which left them with lower stress levels and better mood than adults who don’t volunteer.

Helping Non-Profits Help Those in Need

Finally, volunteering as a group and team-building activity allows you to gain satisfaction from helping community organizations in need. Volunteers have a tremendous impact on the organizations that they choose to volunteer with. Whether you want to host a meal at a local soup kitchen or plant flowers outside of a local elementary school, seizing the opportunity to both cultivate a great, strong team and give back to the community is a great idea. If you aren’t sure what non-profits are best suited to your industry, mission or team members, Business Volunteers Maryland is here to help find the perfect non-profit.

Use Volunteering as a Team-Building Activity with Business Volunteers Maryland

Business Volunteers Maryland is a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening the community by creating strategic connections between businesses, nonprofits and individuals. We help companies like yours to establish and expand community impact efforts while achieving your business goals. To learn more about our services and learn more about volunteering as a team, contact us by calling (410) 366-6030.

How to Encourage Your Employees to Volunteer

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Volunteering is a fantastic way to give back to the community, whether your employees are working as a group during a team volunteer project or independently off the clock. It can be a transformative experience for your employees, creating a culture that is vibrant and appealing. How can you encourage your employees to volunteer?

Offer Paid Time Off

Employees lead very busy lives and, when not on the clock, are moving between extracurricular activities, spending time with friends and family, and managing chores and activities at home, making it tough to find time to give back. By extending paid time off every year specifically for volunteering, you can increase staff participation. A 2017 employee benefits survey by the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) revealed that 22 percent of U.S. companies offer VTO. Many of the companies listed on the Points of Light Civic 50 also extend paid time off for volunteers.

Publicize Volunteer Opportunities

Some employees simply don’t know where to find out information about volunteer opportunities, so they avoid starting the process. Make an effort to include volunteering events in your company-wide mailings. If you are organizing any service projects or organization-wide outings, let employees know far in advance so that they can plan accordingly. To make volunteering a part of your company culture, you can also make a point to announce new volunteer opportunities during meetings, put flyers on bulletin boards, and post information on company intranet sites.

Recognize Great Volunteers

Does your business take time to recognize great employees for their volunteer efforts in your organization? Just like taking time to recognize your employees who complete trainings or go above and beyond, highlighting and rewarding the work that your best volunteers do can help to encourage other employees to volunteer. How can you recognize your volunteer-minded workers? Take it into account when awarding raises or additional paid time off. You can also host a special event just for employees at your company who volunteered.

Contact Business Volunteers Maryland to Learn More about Team Volunteer Projects

Business Volunteers Maryland is a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening the community by creating strategic connections between businesses, nonprofits and individuals. We help companies like yours to establish and expand community impact efforts while achieving your business goals. To learn more about our services and learn more about volunteering as a team, contact us by calling (410) 366-6030.

What Is Voluntourism? And the Impact of Voluntourism on Baltimore

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Voluntourism is one of the most powerful ways to share your skills and energy with a new community as part of a business trip or vacation. This emerging trend might seem catered to individuals or community groups, but it’s perfect for businesses looking to cement doing good as part of their culture and give back while doing business. What is voluntourism, and what has been the impact of voluntourism on Baltimore?

Voluntourism 101

Volunteer tourism, or voluntourism, allows individuals, families, school groups, community organizations and businesses to give back when they take a trip. Sometimes it takes the form of a group going abroad to help underprivileged children. Other times, when attending an event or conference the Baltimore Convention Center or other location, a group will help at a local soup kitchen or planting trees at a local school.

The Benefits of Voluntourism

Just like volunteering somewhere outside of your business, voluntourism on a trip to Baltimore will benefit your employees and company through:

  • Encouraging teamwork and team building;
  • Positive socialization;
  • Helping those in need;
  • Improving employee retention and engagement;
  • Learning about and participating in opportunities they could also engage in near the location of your business;
  • Team building in a positive environment that is separate from traditional team building; and
  • Demonstrating your company commitment to service, improving the world around you and putting your values into practice.

The Impact of Voluntourism on Baltimore

At Business Volunteers Maryland, we work with businesses visiting the Baltimore area to find ways to give back. When you visit our area for a convention or something similar, you can participate in team-building projects that make your travel experience special while helping out the community you are visiting.

Encourage Your Employees to Volunteer with Business Volunteers Maryland

Business Volunteers Maryland is a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening the community by creating strategic connections between businesses, nonprofits and individuals. We help companies like yours to establish and expand community impact efforts while achieving your business goals. To learn more about our services and learn more about volunteering as a team, contact us by calling (410) 366-6030.

Should You Offer Paid Time Off for Volunteering?

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Paid time off for vacation and personal needs is a common benefit at many companies, but have you considered offering paid time off for volunteering? While paying your employees for time out of the office volunteering might seem like a strange benefit to you, volunteer time off (VTO) policies are a great way to cement your company values and encourage employees to give back.

What Is Paid Time Off for Volunteering?

Many times, paid time off for volunteering does not need to be a large chunk of time. Most companies with VTO policies only offer 8 hours, or one day, of paid leave per employee per year. Some companies choose to create a list of valid organizations for VTO use that align with their corporate mission or community. For example, some organizations require that volunteer time off be used only for organizations that have United Way affiliation. VTO often works the same as PTO, where employees need to request the time in advance and get approval.

Should You Offer Paid Time Off for Volunteering?

Just over 10 years ago, only 15% of employers offered VTO as a benefit. However, now companies are taking social responsibility and the communities around them more seriously. Millennials are interested in businesses that want to improve the world around them, and companies who are focused on corporate social responsibility are also those who are thriving in a competitive hiring environment. One survey by Fortune also found that paid time off for volunteering improves employee retention efforts. When employees feel good about their jobs and the work that their employer is doing in and out of the office, they are much more likely to stay around.

How Can You Start a VTO Policy?

If you’re interested in learning more about paid time off for volunteering, designing a policy that works for your office or finding new opportunities to give back to your community, Business Volunteers Maryland is here to help.

Encourage Your Employees to Volunteer with Business Volunteers Maryland

Business Volunteers Maryland is a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening the community by creating strategic connections between businesses, nonprofits and individuals. We help companies like yours to establish and expand community impact efforts while achieving your business goals. To learn more about our services and learn more about volunteering as a team, contact us by calling (410) 366-6030.