Supporting Community Institutions - More Than Corporate Citizenship

By David Powell



Desirable communities like Howard County are defined by a strong health care system, good schools, diverse demographics and arts opportunities. That said, there is a high standard of living in this county and a high expectation from the community that it will be well served.

Howard County is home to more than 8,000 business entities. These companies and organizations are achieving success and employing residents in record numbers, leading the state in the creation of new jobs with more than 38,000 jobs added in Howard County over the last decade.

With such an increase comes the need for the capacity of county institutions and nonprofits needs also to increase. As such, increased charitable giving is required from its citizens, employees and their companies.



Why Are Companies Giving?

Even though the last couple of years have been financially difficult for much of the business community, local companies are still open to conversations from nonprofit leaders as to why their time, talent and treasures are so vital.

Paul Skalny, of Davis, Agnor, Rapaport & Skalny L.L.C., is a partner in the law firm of 20 employees. He, his partners and staff serve on a total of a dozen nonprofit boards, including the Howard Hospital Foundation, FIRN and Leadership Howard County. While the firm is asked often to donate to myriad causes, it financially supports the organizations of the boards on which it serves.

"We give because it's part of our culture; it's who we are, what we believe. It's the obligation of a business to support the community in which it works, plays and generates business," said Skalny. "And, in a law practice, we need to build relationships for business, and the philanthropic world is a good forum in which to do so."



How Are Companies Giving?

Corporate donations to a capital campaign are typically made in annual pledge payments, in response to a direct solicitation. Today, there are new venues for soliciting and giving, accomplished via online tools such web site payment systems, FaceBook Fan Clubs or Twitter messages.

The sponsorship of events, while not a new tactic, provides a specific arena for companies to give charitably. Many companies donate in this form for three reasons.

1. Their employees use the organization, e.g., school, hospital or church;

2. The sponsorship is for a high caliber organization that will provide exposure and referrals; and/or

3. They are driven by corporate citizenship, as caring and conscientious employers.

Dynanet, an information technology company of 100 employees, donates annually to approximately eight organizations, often in the form of event sponsorships. Founder and president Sean Peay shared one example of sponsoring golf events for scholarship funding. He enjoys doing so because he hopes to provide a child a great education such as he experienced.

Peay grew up in Howard County and donates to the police, fire, hospital, schools and other local charities because he has relationships with those institutions. Recently, he stepped up to serve on the Howard Hospital Foundation board.

"We support the local services because, if something happens to someone in our organization, those institutions will be here to support us," noted Peay. "Yet, 80% of the time we give simply to give back, to support the causes the organization believes in."



What Are Companies Giving?

Even when builders were laying off employees, Wilhelm Commercial Builders continued to donate to community causes. Wayne and Dianna Wilhelm, chairman and CEO, and senior vice president, respectfully, are a husband and wife team that has been civically minded for years.

The company not only supports the United Way campaign, but it also offers an incentive program to employees who sign up. Wilhelm conducts a drawing of all participants in the program in which two winners are each awarded a weeklong vacation package.

In 2009, the Wilhelms made a first-time gift to Howard County General Hospital in the form of a five-year pledge commitment to the hospital's Campus Development Project. "It's important for us to give back to the community we live and work in. The hospital is the centerpiece of the community and we want to support that need," said Wayne Wilhelm.

Wilhelm also performs two to three community service projects each year, exercising its corporate culture of giving back, donating time and talents to organizations such as Christmas in April. Wayne is also the president of the Baltimore Washington Corridor Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

"Three years ago we set up a corporate succession plan, knowing that we wanted to contribute more time to area nonprofits," explained Dianna. "We're involved in trade associations and serve on various committees that educate us on the needs of the community. And, we envision having our own foundation in the future."

Whether a business can donate time, talent or treasure, Howard County foundations and other nonprofits need corporate support to serve the growing community. Annual or online giving, event sponsorship or serving on a board are all excellent examples of corporate citizenship and more.



David Powell is the chair of the board of trustees of the Howard Hospital Foundation, a private, nonprofit organization entrusted to provide philanthropic support of Howard County General Hospital: A Member of Johns Hopkins Medicine. He is also a member of the hospital board of directors. He can be reached at david@fbcinc.com.