Building a Stronger M. Holland Community

Corporate volunteerism is becoming increasingly important at M. Holland. What began informally as a grassroots effort has evolved into a significant part of our corporate culture. We encourage employees to serve as positive role models and provide learning opportunities for the next generation.

The leadership team at M. Holland places great importance on the value of corporate volunteering and philanthropy. This fall, we established M. Holland Community, an employee-led team that oversees volunteering and corporate giving. M. Holland Community is comprised of a cross-section of people from varying locations and backgrounds. They are working to make sure that volunteer efforts fit into the business model and make the best use of employee skills and corporate assets (like philanthropic dollars, in-kind donations, equipment and other physical assets). They’re also evaluating what kinds of opportunities to pursue and criteria for establishing a partnership.

In recent years, we have organized successful food drives, donations and fundraisers, soliciting donations from generous employees for organizations that include Amvets, PAWS Chicago, the Ann & Robert H. Lurie HIV/AIDS Prevention Program and the Franciscan Outreach shelter. When M. Holland team members were in Haiti this fall for meetings shortly after a deadly hurricane struck, they worked to organize a donation of funds to Project Medishare and plastic buckets to go to some of the areas that were hardest hit.

In December, we’re taking part in the Maryville Giving Tree program. Inside the M. Holland Town Center is a meticulously crafted tree; hanging on the branches of the tree are red cards that have a child’s name, age, gender and the facility where they reside. Also included are three gift ideas, in no particular order, that they might like for the holidays. These kids range in age from newborn to age 21, and every one has faced or is facing challenges and obstacles in their lives that do not allow them some of the things that we are fortunate to have.

We’re looking forward to moving ahead in 2017 with a purposeful and focused corporate volunteer program led by M. Holland Community. We’ll be looking for meaningful new initiatives that we can participate in and move forward with as a team.