Shining Corporate Citizens
charlottesville, insurance, state farm, wal-mart,
Charlottesville’s schools, charities and other worthwhile organizations benefit from a steady stream of community support, much of which comes from the area’s major employers.
For State Farm, which has approximately 1,500 employees in its operations center just east of town, strong corporate citizenship has been a natural part of doing business since it established a presence in Charlottesville in 1952. Today, the area’s largest private employer participates in several regional initiatives as well as offering some of its own programs.
“State Farm is a major sponsor of education initiatives in Charlottesville, such as our grant to the Public Education Fund of Charlottesville-Albemarle for sponsorship of its Odyssey 2025, a science and math program that brings innovative service-learning opportunities to sixth- and seventh-grade students throughout Charlottesville City and Albemarle County public schools,” says Danny Sheppard, public affairs specialist for State Farm’s Mid-Atlantic Zone. “We are also proud of our sponsorship of the Do Drop In Homework School Bus, which provides educational after-school opportunities to many students in Albemarle County.”
Other recipients of the State Farm largesse include the Charlottesville Fire Department; Albemarle County Police Foundation; Children, Youth and Family Services Inc.; and Habitat for Humanity. The company awarded more than $100,000 in grants and donations during 2008, Sheppard says. It also has several internal initiatives that reflect a global consciousness among its employees, from rigorous recycling programs to a green roof pilot project.
Giving back is a hallmark of another major local employer, Wal-Mart, which operates a major outlet in Charlottesville and a warehouse in nearby Gordonsville. Store employees gave more than $18,000 last year, while warehouse employees donated and raised more than $63,000 to various worthy causes, notably the annual Charlottesville Heart Walk, where Wal-Mart’s sponsorship and donations totaled $40,000.
“Our company really stresses giving, because our associates and our customers are all part of the community,” says E. R Anderson, regional media director. “We really get behind efforts to give back whenever we can.”
Recipients of their work include area schools, Little League teams, the Central Virginia Burn Camp, the American Cancer Society, the city’s parks and recreation department and dozens more organizations and entities.
To recognize companies leading the way in community involvement and improvement, The Hovey S. Dabney Award for Corporate Citizenship was established in 2005. Presented by the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce, it was underwritten by former board chairman Ivo Romenesko, and chamber members Hunter E. Craig and W.K. Heischman. Through 2008, winners have included Better Living Inc., State Farm, McGuireWoods and Hantzmon, Wiebel & Co.
“We felt like the companies and their employees deserved some recognition, and that folks should be told about all the efforts that go into making them not only competitive at what they do, but how they contribute to the community,” Romenesko says.
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Story by Joe Morris
Photo by Todd Bennett
