Last year, Total Attorneys partnered with Purse of Hope to create the Total Impact House in Uganda. It's a shelter that provides resources for women who were caught in the human sex trade. Recently, I traveled to Africa and visited the girls who live in the house. Seeing firsthand the start of a huge change in the girls' lives; their hope; their laughter; and their appreciation made a profound impact on my wife and me.
I've been thinking a lot about why philanthropy is so important. As a CEO, I am best able to help the world through encouraging corporate social responsibility. Basically, this concept means relying on corporations and businesses to do the right thing. It includes conducting business in an ethical way, as well as encouraging or even beginning philanthropic projects outside of the business.
Of course, corporate social responsibility has always been an important idea, but it's even more relevant in the 21st century. First, technology is making things possible that were never imaginable before. Because of technology, international connections between those who are helping and those who are being helped are possible. This connection is incredibly powerful, makes philanthropy more meaningful, and promotes cross-cultural learning. The girls at the Total Impact House in Uganda made this video postcard for the Total Attorneys employees in Chicago. Everyone really enjoys getting to know the girls, and they like learning about us, too. Second, acting socially responsible is just the right thing to do. One of our core values at Total Attorneys is to "do the right thing." We need more people in the world who believe in social justice.
Finally, corporate social responsibility is important in the 21st century because it lends itself to the idea of a global economy. Countries are becoming increasingly global, in terms of economics. Paul Collier, in his TED talk on "The Bottom Billion", says that because of the global nature of our economy, both governments and businesses have self-interest in the development of the bottom billion. Collier says that a combination of compassion and 'enlightened self-interest' will solve the problem of global poverty. Enlightened self-interest is realizing that the economies of other countries (including underdeveloped ones) affect our own businesses/economies. The net of people defined as 'stakeholders' in the development of countries such as Uganda is getting wider and wider as the world gets smaller and smaller because of technological advances.
How does Collier's idea relate to corporate social responsibility? He says that until we have a critical mass of citizens who are informed about global poverty and human rights issues, we will not be able to get serious about developing third world countries. Change comes in many ways. As a company, Total Attorneys bought a house in Uganda to help women in the sex trade. A side effect of this was the education of our employees and their friends, family, and social network about aid to Africa, human trafficking and empowering women worldwide. Important issues they might not have known about before.
Businesses are in a position to help employees become global thinkers/citizens. Acting responsibly is the first step to this.
Many thanks to the attorneys and others who joined us in Tucson on Saturday evening for drinks, entertainment, and to support a good cause. Thanks to the generosity of our guests, Total Attorneys raised $3172 for Southern Arizona Legal Aid, Inc. last weekend.
Recent studies indicate that the civil legal needs of the poor in many areas are going largely unmet, illustrating the importance of both pro bono efforts and supporting programs like this legal aid foundation, which provides free civil legal services to qualified low-income clients.
Supporting the larger community, both within the legal field and beyond it, is an important part of the Total Attorneys mission. Learn more about our other philanthropic projects here: Total Impact
I’m also particularly pleased to tell you about our latest philanthropic venture, Total Impact House. In partnership with Purse of Hope, we’ve established a rehabilitative home in Uganda to help young girls victimized by the human traffic and sex trade industry. Read about the story in the Chicago Tribune.
During the holidays and at the end of the year, many people focus their attention on counting their blessings, evaluating business goals and providing for themselves and their families. In the midst of vacations, gift wrapping, shopping sprees, holiday parties, office meetings, and year-end wrap-ups, it can be difficult to remember those less fortunate in the world. At Total Attorneys, however, I am inspired by our employees who always find time to fit philanthropy and charity in with their busy work schedules and home life.
Last week, our office held a fundraiser for Purse of Hope, a not-for-profit organization that works to provide care for children exploited by the commercial sex industry in Uganda. By selling purses, jewelry, wallets, bags and other products made in Uganda, the Total Impact fundraising team raised $1500 in just four hours. In addition, Total Attorneys team members took the initiative to collect winter coats and other clothing to donate to Cornerstone Community Outreach, an organization that runs soup kitchens and other services for homeless and low-income residents. This week, the office hosted a Cookie Swap to benefit the Chicago Youth Center – Fellowship House, and the Total Practice Management Association team is donating a Wii gaming system to the same organization. In addition to the events that our employees have created, hosted and participated in during the month of December alone, employees at Total Attorneys have been active in charities throughout the year, including a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, the JP Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge to raise money for the Chicago Food Depository and other great charities, a merchandise booth at the Hyde Park Jazz Festival to raise money for Purse of Hope, the Chicago Marathon, another clothing drive earlier this year, an employee talent show benefiting the Chicago Youth Center – Fellowship House and an Earth Day cell phone and eyeglass recycling drive.
It has been a busy and exciting year at Total Attorneys, and I am lucky to be part of such a hardworking, generous and selfless team. While it may seem difficult to give back to society when we are busy, watching our budget or counting our own blessings, the employees at Total Attorneys remind me time and time again that giving back to your community can be a great way to help others while building positive morale and camaraderie among employees. While some of us may be looking for ways to save time or cut costs right now, it is important to remember that there are people with even tighter budgets and greater needs.
"I think we can all agree that philanthropy in the workplace has a big impact on company morale," says Ellen Margovsky, human resources assistant at Total Attorneys. "By showing our employees that we, as a company, care about the wellbeing of those less fortunate than us we show them that our goals reach beyond being a successful business. It shows that we want to have a positive impact on the world and that we realize how fortunate we are here. In addition, the desire to help others is closely related to many of the behavioral traits we screen for in the hiring process. But most importantly, philanthropy in the workplace demonstrates that we embody our company's core values."
By encouraging staff members to add charity and volunteer activities to their everyday schedules, employees build a closer, stronger team at work while making a positive impact outside company walls. Do you get involved in any charities that are close to your heart right now? Do you try to encourage your coworkers and employees to volunteer and get involved in charity events? While some of us may be tightening our belts during the holidays, in what ways can we give back to our communities, nation and the world?
If you are looking for ways to boost corporate philanthropy, check out this guide to giving. Happy holidays from everyone at Total Attorneys!