Companies with Heart
Annual salute to Northeast Florida businesses that put community and giving at the forefront of their agendas.
•
Images of disaster, both man-made and natural, cause people to act. Volunteers are assembled, donations are made, resources are mobilized and the media directs its lenses and microphones so as not to miss capturing whatever may be happening on a given day. If this kind of media attention results in the ease of suffering or more assistance being provided to those in need, that’s a good thing and such actions are worthy of recognition and praise.
However, most good deeds go unreported. They happen every day, and are often the result of average people who want to give to those among us who are less fortunate or in need. School supplies are gathered, free dinners are served, roadsides are cleaned up of trash—the list of community involvement projects is a mile long. Fortunately, we live and work in a city that’s full of commercial enterprises that take actions such as these, and they do so not because they have to but because they understand that improving the city in which one works is just good for business.
For example, companies like Jacksonville Wealth Builders and the Dalton Agency encourage their employees to volunteer at area non-profit organizations. Mayo Clinic actively supports its employees who donate to events like the Children’s Christmas Party of Jacksonville and the United Way. And Vistakon uses its financial largess and employee elbow grease to help at happenings such as Filipino Pride Day and the Hispanic Heritage Art Walk.
Each year through its Companies With Heart Awards, 904 Magazine attempts to recognize some of the noteworthy community-minded actions undertaken by many Northeast Florida businesses. In no way do we consider this recognition to be all-encompassing. At best, it’s a small snapshot of what our area’s businesses do to keep our streets a little cleaner, our kids a little healthier, our disadvantaged a little happier and, perhaps, our city a little brighter.
It would take dozens of pages to list all the contributions made by our Companies With Heart honorees. While we’re unable to do that, we do want to recognize these commendable companies and highlight just some of the things they have done to make Jacksonville a better place in which to live and work.
•
Now Accepting Nominations for 2014
The nominating period for the third annual Companies With Heart Awards is now open and continues through December 31, 2013. Posted here is the 2014 Companies With Heart Nomination Form. Please provide the requested information by the deadline date. Additional materials are also encouraged, including photos, videos, news clippings, company handbooks and anything else you believe demonstrates and illustrates your company’s commitment to our community.
Questions? Please feel free to contact 904 Magazine’s associate publisher Anna Marie Burke at (904) 389-3622, ext. 303.
•
2013 Honor Roll
Featured here are brief profiles of the philanthropic endeavors undertaken by this year’s honorees, listed in alphabetical order:
•••
Baptist Health
Type of Business: Healthcare
Local Employees: 8,700
Corporate Philosophy on Community Giving: Baptist Health’s philosophy originates from its core values: community advocacy, respect, excellence and stewardship. To live these values every day, Baptist Health strives to create a healthier community by doing more than just operating within the walls of the hospital. Baptist Health focuses on increasing access to care for medically underserved people; preventing and managing chronic diseases; mentoring disadvantaged adolescents and teens; and helping senior citizens transition from hospital to home.
Notable Accomplishment: Among Baptist Health’s many community initiatives is the Student Vision Initiative, which provides glasses to children from low-income families.
•
Brunet-Garcia Advertising
Type of Business: Advertising Agency
Local Employees: 15
Corporate Philosophy on Community Giving: Brunet-Garcia has a formal policy of providing up to eight hours a month of company time to any employee who would like to volunteer. In addition, Brunet-Garcia provides services to a substantial number of non-profit clients on a pro-bono basis each year. The firm offers these clients the same amount of time and dedication that is provided to paying clients.
Notable Accomplishments: In an effort to make significant donations to local non-profits, Brunet-Garcia introduced a pro-bono initiative called Resolve. The firm provides over $200,000 in services each year to its non-profit clients. Brunet-Garcia also launched an initiative called Block x Block, designed to make a positive change in the community by picking up trash in neighborhoods.
•
Crowley
Type of Business: Marine Solutions, Transportation and Logistics
Local Employees: 1,000
Corporate Philosophy on Community Giving: Supporting education has been a major focus for Crowley over the years, and the company has consistently moved forward in its efforts to give children an opportunity for a bright future. Crowley has contributed over $2 million to scholarships during the past several years. Each Crowley location has the freedom to choose charitable organizations to support through mentoring, volunteering, fundraising and financial assistance to employees.
Notable Accomplishments: Crowley supports the American Heart Association Heart Walk, Light the Night Walk, and Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Crowley also donated capital and volunteer services to improve the Arlington YMCA’s Fort Caroline Field.
•
CSX
Type of Business: Rail-based Transportation Services
Local Employees: 3,500
Corporate Philosophy on Community Giving: In order to fulfill its responsibility to the communities that CSX serves, the company believes in doing more than simply connecting people, products and places. The firm believes that its role is to make life safer, greener, healthier and more rewarding for the neighborhoods throughout 21,000 miles of track.
Notable Accomplishments: CSX and the CSX Foundation provide million of dollars in grants and volunteer hours to charitable organizations in Jacksonville every year. The firm collaborates with Jacksonville-based Dignity U Wear to contribute financial, volunteer, and transportation resources in fulfilling its mission to provide new clothing to school children, women in distress, and returning members of the military.
•
Dalton Agency
Type of Business: Advertising Agency
Local Employees: 75
Corporate Phillosphy on Community Giving: The entire Dalton company remains committed to give of its time and talents to raise awareness for Jacksonville’s non-profit organizations and their missions that support the community.
Notable Accomplishments: Through its DaltonCares event, the agency provides pro-bono services to a different nonprofit organization each year. The company also works with numerous non-profits throughout the year, including the Jacksonville Humane Society, Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation, the American Heart Association and four Ronald McDonald Houses. The company encourages its employees to volunteer and serve on nonprofit boards, and to take advantage of leadership opportunities in the community.
•
Fidelity National Financial
Type of Business: Financial Services
Local Employees: 1,375
Corporate Phillosophy on Community Giving: Fidelity National Financial is committed to community involvement and philanthropy, and dedicates time and financial resources to a multitude of important causes throughout the country and internationally. FNF typically contributes financially to more than 1,000 charitable causes annually across a wide range of community needs, including medical research, military member and family support, and elder care.
Notable Accomplishments: Fidelity National Financial employees serve on various non-profit boards throughout the North Florida region. FNF employees also serve as company chair people, serving as liaisons between the company and various nonprofits.
•
Firehouse Subs
Type of Business: Fast-Casual Restaurant Chain
Local Employees: 460
Corporate Philosophy on Community Giving: To carry on the company’s commitment to, and passion for, hearty and flavorful food, heartfelt service and public safety.
Notable Accomplishments: Firehouse Subs provides food to first responders and victims through its Firehouse Subs Disaster Relief and Mobilization program, including Hurricane Sandy relief in New Jersey and Staten Island, Colorado wildfires, Alabama tornadoes and Texas wildfires. The company also offers additional support to area nonprofits outside of its Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation through financial and food donations, employee support, and fundraising.
•
Foundation Financial Group
Type of Business: Financial Services
Local Employees: 75
Corporate Philosophy on Community Giving: Through philanthropic services, FFG strives to provide opportunities that improve the lives of individuals in its community. At FFG, building long-term strategic partnerships with a variety of nonprofit philanthropic organizations is intrinsic to the company’s definition of success.
Notable Accomplishments: Through financial contributions in donations and volunteerism, FFG’s social investment has surpassed $1.1 million in support of philanthropic initiatives since 2010. All support groups and sales divisions are allocated quarterly monetary budgets for philanthropic endeavors. Within those support groups and sales divisions, committees are established to identify local organizations in need of support. Additionally, FFG created the William C. “Chris” Pettry Family Fund in response to a tragedy at the Jacksonville Landing. FFG is currently partnering with the Salvation Army in sponsorship of a corporate food drive.
•
Florida Blue
Type of Business: Healthcare
Local Employees: 5,000
Corporate Philosophy on Community Giving: Florida Blue believes it is important to give back to the communities where its employees work and live and to support its mission to help people and communities achieve better health. The company’s values are to inspire a culture of integrity, respect, excellence, courage and imagination in all it does and for all the people it serves.
Notable Accomplishments: Over the past 12 years, Florida Blue and its philanthropic affiliate, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Foundation (BCBSF Foundation), have made more than 5,000 gifts to nonprofits, and have contributed over $189 million to improve the health and well-being of Florida’s people. More than one million people have received direct services through the BCBSF Foundation. The BlueCommunity Champions is an employee engagement program that has volunteered more than 25,000 hours at an estimated value of $534,000 in 2011 alone.
•
Jacksonville Wealth Builders
Type of Business: Financial Services
Local Employees: 24
Corporate Philosophy on Community Giving: The company’s mission statement is to “change people’s lives by delivering time, ownership and financial freedom,” and giving back to the community is vital to fulfilling that mission.
Notable Accomplishments: Jacksonville Wealth Builders gives its employees a half-day off every other month in order to participate in volunteer activities. In 2012, the company pledged to complete 300 volunteer hours. They fulfilled that goal by volunteering with HabiJax and Another Sign: The Musical, organizing a beach clean-up, serving breakfast at the Clara White Mission, and other activities.
•
Memorial Hospital
Type of Business: Healthcare
Local Employees: More than 1,800 employees; over 850 physicians
Corporate Philosophy on Community Giving: Memorial Hospital values the important relationship its
employees have with the Jacksonville community, and it is committed and dedicated to supporting numerous charitable organizations and important causes. Employees take an active role in giving back to the community by volunteering time and money. As a whole, they donate about 50,000 hours each year. Additionally, the hospital offers community health screenings, sponsors charitable events, and participates in volunteer efforts of all kinds.
Notable Accomplishments: In August 2012, Memorial Hospital hosted a skin cancer screening at the hospital that provided more than 65 free evaluations. In September, the hospital hosted a free community prostate and colorectal cancer screening event. Additionally, the hospital has helped more than 11,000 employees through the HCA Hope Fund. Each year, the hospital provides nearly $30 million worth of charity and free care. The hospital also established a volunteer program called Volunteen to assist students in obtaining volunteer hours needed to fulfill educational scholarships.
•
St. Vincent’s HealthCare
Type of Business: Healthcare
Local Employees: 5,167
Corporate Philosophy on Community Giving: For more than 100 years, St. Vincent’s HealthCare has been committed to providing quality health care to those who need it in Northeast Florida. Last fiscal year, St. Vincent’s provided over $71 million in care to the poor and community support. Guided by its core values, St. Vincent’s is committed to the mission of sustaining and improving the health of individuals and their community by supporting opportunities and reinforcing the values of their compassionate organizations throughout the community that contribute to the quality of life in the city.
Notable Accomplishments: More than 1,500 associates have personally contributed more than $200,000 to the Gold Key Club, as well as thousands of dollars to the United Way of Northeast Florida and similar associations. Physician members have established a self-directed endowment fund to support patients and guests.
•
The Main Street America Group
Type of Business: Insurance
Local Employees: 165
Corporate Philosophy on Giving: The Main Street America Group is committed to making a positive impact in the communities where its employees live and work.
Notable Accomplishments: The company’s NGM Charitable Foundation supports local non-profit organizations in Northeast Florida and several other communities across the United States through focused efforts in supporting health and welfare, educational, cultural and civic needs. The Foundation’s funding supports American Lung Association of Florida, Boy Scouts of America, and the United Way. The company also annually provides each employee with a volunteer day, and conducts food and toy drives during the holidays.
•
Mayo Clinic in Florida
Type of Business: Healthcare
Local Employees: 4,900
Corporate Philosophy on Community Giving: There are many efforts throughout Mayo Clinic that nurture strong community partnerships. The company’s culture of caring extends through its employees, students and volunteers, to its patients and beyond to the community.
Notable Accomplishments: Mayo tries to do its part for people who are not getting adequate medical care by finding creative ways to provide it. Each year, Mayo sponsors about 30 events, and hundreds of its employees volunteer in community activities. The company has developed a “Live Well – Be Well” initiative to promote and provide education in minority communities, and “Live Well – Think Well,” to promote healthy brain aging. In 2012, Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville served as the Cause Sponsor for the ASA Heart Walk.
•
Vistakon Division, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care
Type of Business: Eye Care
Local Employees: 1,800
Corporate Philosophy on Community Giving: As part of Johnson & Johnson, Vistakon bases its community giving philosophy on the J&J Credo, which states: “We are responsible to the communities in which we live and work and to the world community as well. We must be good citizens—support good works and charities … we must encourage civic improvements and better health and education.” This Credo ensures that every employee understands that philathropic work is part of their responsibility. It is a philosophy that lives in the heart of each employee, and is reflected in dozens of community projects.
Notable Accomplishments: Vistakon’s Charitable Contributions Committee carefully vets nonprofit groups who ask for donations. In 2012, the committe wrote checks to 25 nonprofit groups in greater Jacksonville, such as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. They also grant every full-time employee at least one day a year to devote to volunteer work. Vistakon regularly partners with Vision is Priceless to provide free eye exams for needy citizens, and the company forms some of the biggest walk teams for events such as the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk. The company also holds an annual Community Outreach Expo.
•
2013 Companies with Heart beneficiary & non-profit partner
GlobalJax is a non-profit organization working to create a more vibrant, inclusive and international Jacksonville. GlobalJax serves Northeast Florida by showcasing its international community. It provides an international resource database, an all-inclusive calendar of international events, and the capacity to build partnerships offering incoming international visitors access to local professionals and cultural experiences that promote lasting global connections.
The mission of GlobalJax is to empower our community to thrive in a Global Society by:
• Equipping our community to interact with the world
• Engaging our community in international relations
• Expanding Jacksonville’s global connections
To learn more, visit GlobalJax.org.