As a consumer, I find it rather daunting when it comes to choosing products I trust. Whether it is finding a product that will clean my home, allow my car to run more efficiently, or even possibly save my life – I find myself reading labels and googling reviews on new purchases. However, I am swayed to purchase products from a company invests in its community. It’s a “win win” situation – the community receives the support it needs, the company is able to market its brand to new consumers, and customers feel empowered through each purchase.
Today’s Inspiration: I attended UBM’s “Business4Better” conference a few months ago and left with a breath of fresh air. The purpose of this conference was to bring businesses and nonprofits together to explore aligning missions by evolving into mutual partnerships.
There was one case study that was presented at the conference that really struck a cord in my heart.
Boeing and Inside the Outdoors
The Boeing Company has developed the Employees Community Fund (ECF) to support global and local community programs through volunteer activities and grants. The ECF has funded numerous projects, including food banks, job training for the unemployed, aiding the homeless, and more.
Recently, Boeing’s ECF of Southern California supported the reconstruction of Inside the Outdoors’ shade structures in Silverado. The original shade structures were destroyed by the 2007 Santiago wild fires. Students were mentored by Boeing employees to create a design, establish a budget and identify building materials for the new structures. By empowering them through the art of science and technology, students were encouraged to “learn about environmental stewardship in a setting that fosters a love of the natural world.”
After designing their shade structure, students and Boeing employees presented their project to a panel of judges during a meeting at Boeing’s Seal Beach facility.
The structure was rebuilt in 2011 and has resulted in more students finding interest in engineering and other sciences – something that our country is desperately seeking for the future.
To learn more about Inside the Outdoors and their facility, please click here.