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The year in corporate giving

December 23, 2012

Charitable giving in the Washington area began to make a comeback in 2012. The United Way for the National Capital Area, which organizes 800 workplace-giving campaigns in the region, reported a near 20 percent drop in donations from 2008 to 2011, but saw that reverse to double-digit growth this year.

Some businesses that reined in charitable dollars made up for it in volunteer hours and key partnerships to extend their goodwill.

What follows are just a few ways Washington area businesses made their mark in the community this year; consider this a snapshot of the good deeds in our midst.

•More than 1,600 workers participated in almost 4,000 hours of community service during the annual week of service at Washington-based research and consulting firm Advisory Board. Staffers gave their time to 61 organizations that week and donated more than $75,000. One of their activities was the “Branding Blitz,” in which members of the marketing, sales and design teams worked pro bono to develop branding and communications strategies in just 48 hours for three nonprofit groups.

•Cloud-based telephone solutions provider Angel gave more than 72 hours to build a system for Our Neighbor’s Child, donated more than $8,000 in gifts, including iPods and guitars to the same nonprofit, and developed a free North Pole Hotline that supported more than 860 phone calls from children calling Santa to find out conditions in the North Pole.

•Apple Federal Credit Union donated $60,000 to the American Cancer Society, with proceeds going toward cancer research. It also supported Fairfax County government and schools by donating 1,000 backpacks and partnered with Fairfax County Fire and Rescue to give 3,000 new coats to needy youth in the area.

•Annapolis-based Arinc focused its giving efforts this year on Maryland Therapeutic Riding, a nonprofit that aims to provide therapeutic experiences to adults and children through horseback riding. Nearly 100 of its employees worked to plan, set up and staff the Live on the Farm concert, the organization’s major annual fundraising event. The government services firm has donated $130,000 in cash and in-kind donations to this group and many other charity organizations this year.

•Arnold & Porter donated nearly 90,000 pro bono hours to many causes, including working with General Electric and the Children’s Law Center to provide special education services and early intervention services to at-risk children.

• The Bank of America Charitable Foundation selected five Washington area high school students to take part in the 2012 Student Leaders program, which offers paid eight-week summer internships at local nonprofits. The foundation also awarded more than $550,000 to 17 nonprofits that provide affordable housing in the area. It gave a total of $238,000 in grants to 13 nonprofits in the region as part of a national effort to support job training, education programs and support services that help connect the unemployed, underemployed, veterans, youth and those with disabilities to employment success.

•Ben’s Chili Bowl is in the process of boxing up 125 holiday meals that will be delivered to foster care families in the area. Throughout the year, the iconic U Street eatery made many small donations, as well as larger contributions, to Teaching for Change, Think Local First DC and Spirit of Black D.C., an organization that promotes D.C. black history and culture.

• McLean-based Booz Allen Hamilton held a mentoring program for local teen Girl Scouts meant to teach the girls about interview skills, leadership, community service and career options. More than 1,200 company employees and friends participated in Rebuilding Together’s National Rebuilding Day, which included 67 home renovations in 32 locations. Employees also provided support through D.C. nonprofit Compass, which helps nonprofits be more effective.

•For eight years running, major office owner Brookfield Properties has been presenting sponsor of the Special Olympics of D.C.’s Summer Games, held at Catholic University. Employees volunteered 865 hours to make the games run smoothly.

• Arlington-based corporate research firm CEB gave out more than $100,000 in grants to nonprofit groups that show a commitment to boosting entrepreneurship and innovation. About 100 CEB staffers volunteered with the Earth Conservation Corps, working to clean up the Anacostia River and paint an education center in Southeast Washington.

• McLean-based Capital One Financial is donating up to 6 million minutes in calling time for active duty military members through the nonprofit Cell Phones for Soldiers. Earlier this year, Capital One opened an Entrepreneur Lab in the District’s Ward 8, where the bank provides working space and business development workshops for 15 to 30 local small businesses.