It’s always a glorious day to give back.
Mobilizing boots on the ground to step up for meaningful volunteer work is among the most gratifying efforts spearheaded by BizFed members. Earlier this month, we encouraged you to explore volunteer opportunities at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank after Team BizFed packed 1,675 boxes for neighbors in need.
We’d like to close out National Volunteer Month today by spotlighting how BizFed’s six Advocacy Committee Co-Chairs are giving back to diverse communities with their companies and organizations.
- Angela Gibson: The Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber is promoting post-secondary academic advancement and uplifting students from underserved communities through scholarships, supplemental education programs, networking events, and opportunities to model positive corporate citizenship and civic engagement. Special emphasis is placed on programs that help under-resourced students pursue business-oriented curriculums.
- Jeremy Harris: Long Beach Area Chamber is expanding education opportunities for women by providing a scholarship to support students attending Long Beach City College (LBCC) who are interested in pursuing a business-related field and plan to transfer to California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). Long Beach Area Chamber also partnered with the Signal Hill Chamber, United Cambodian Community, Long Beach LGBTQ+ Chamber, Love Catalina Island Tourism, and Lakewood Chamber to host a community resource fair this week enabling new partnerships and empowering local business owners.
- Peter Hidalgo: Charter Communications is leaning into its “Pay It Forward” program, investing more than $45 million to help 2,000 multicultural business owners prosper in 36 states with free advertising, mentoring, business insights, webinars, and other tools. The company’s “Community Center Assist” expanded to 15 new locations this year to provide job skills training and improve the physical condition of community centers.
- Trini Jimenez: Watson Land Company is continuing its tradition of philanthropy through strategic giving to youth programs, families in need, senior services, workforce development programs, and literacy training. Employees visited first graders this month at Dominguez ELementary School as part of their “Operation Teddy Bear” program to share stories of kindness, plus backpacks filled with school supplies and toys.
- Scott Longhurst: Crown Castle is improving public spaces where people connect, promoting public safety, and advancing access to education and technology through its “Connected By Good” program. The initiative launched in 2017 to revitalize parks and quickly expanded into other spaces. Recent efforts include clean-up days at Boys & Girls Clubs, volunteer work at after-school programs, office donation drives, free digital literacy courses, and programs for seniors.
- Schenae Rourk: National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) chapters across the nation have led beach clean-ups, next-generation entrepreneurship mentoring, donations to other nonprofit organizations, and other volunteer efforts to give back. As part of a National Day of Service, NAWBO members partnered with the Women Presidents Organization to volunteer at Dress For Success events in locations including Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, Phoenix, and San Francisco.
The spirit of giving back is not unique to our advocacy superstars. The broad business community, in Southern California and beyond, plays an outsize role in uplifting all community members and connecting them with opportunities for a brighter tomorrow. We’re proud to amplify these efforts.
Send us a note or tag us in a post to let us know how your organization or company is giving back. We’ll share on BizFed platforms.
Onward!
