Saturday, March 3, 2007

Philanthropy's Good for Business and Community

Philanthropy: Good for business and the community
Aflac Chairman, CEO Amos picks up major award for cancer center work
BY ANDREA HERNANDEZ and TONY ADAMS
Staff Writers

Special to the Ledger-Enquirer
Aflac Chairman Dan Amos is shown with Payton Samples during an Atlanta Braves outing for the families from the Aflac Cancer Center. Helping children with cancer, funding scholarships for students, sprucing up the houses of military "heroes," and building an arts and cultural center downtown. They're all so different, yet they are classic examples of philanthropy by the Columbus business community.

Today is National Corporate Philanthropy Day. But it really isn't something accomplished in a day, a week, a month or a year -- it's a long-term commitment over generations.

"The large businesses are enormously generous and they give a lot of money. They also give employee time, and they give of their own credibility," said Betsy Covington, executive director of The Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley. "These are hallmarks for companies out to promote big pictures for the community."

One major player in this era of social responsibility was honored Saturday night with the honoring of Aflac Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dan Amos. The executive, which has ridden the popular Aflac duck's tail feathers to consistent profits, received the 2007 Star Award from the Atlanta chapter of Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation.

The non-profit organization -- which helps critically ill children and their families cope through entertainment, education and other activities -- recognized Amos and the company for its long list of philanthropic contributions and efforts, including Aflac's overall $30 million contribution to the Aflac Cancer Center at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Amos' personal contribution of more than $3 million.

Aflac's philanthropy

In 2006, Aflac and The Aflac Foundation -- headed by Amos' wife, Kathelen -- shelled out more than $5.9 million for charitable causes.

At the supplemental insurance company, employees participate in a variety of company-backed volunteer projects and events, including Habitat for Humanity, Relay for Life, Columbus State University's servant leadership program, and a summer reading program at Columbus Public Library.

Last year, employees volunteered a total of 5,724 hours.

They are also invited to fundraisers for juvenile diabetes, pediatric cancer and other causes -- many of which are proposed by the employees themselves.

"Really, it starts at the top," said Audrey Tillman, senior vice president and director of corporate services. "You look at the work in the community the Amos brothers did; you look at what Dan and Kathelen are doing right now -- that's not surprising to any of the employees because it's filtered throughout our organization."

On a national level, pediatric cancer is a particular focus for Aflac, which also has a cancer center in its name in Atlanta. Last year, more than $3.5 million of total donations went to the cause.

Since 1995, Aflac field force agents have contributed more than $17 million toward pediatric cancer treatment and research.

"Money doesn't save your life, but it can save someone else's through research," Amos said. "You're really encouraging people for the future."

The cause particularly strikes a cord with a supplemental insurance company familiar with the taxing costs of medical care.

"So many of our employees are touched by cancer diagnosis, and pediatric, in particular, is underfunded," said Buffy Swinehart, manager of cause marketing and philanthropy at Aflac. "Being part of a health-care industry, it just makes sense to us."

Seeking 'returnsin the future'

"Businesses contribute to their community for many reasons, and some are altruistic and some aren't," Covington said.

Corporate giving could yield something in return -- although not necessarily in the form of funds or business deals.

"I don't view people or companies who are giving as giving handouts. I view it as making investments in what you care about," Covington said. "And if your investments are in your community... you're hoping for returns in the future."

Amos said this is especially applicable in regard to education.

"The quality of our work force depends on how good an education they get," Amos said. "The vast majority of employees are educated right in Columbus, Ga., so what Columbus Tech or Columbus State does is very important."

In January, Dan and Kathelen announced a $1 million donation to Columbus Technical College's campaign to develop health-care professionals.

Swinehart said company-wide employee volunteerism also promotes a loyal work force at Aflac.

"It's part of our social responsibility," Amos said. "Our first and foremost responsibility is to give a great return to our shareholders. Then, we also want to make it a good place for our employees."

Improving the quality of life -- from promoting cultural events to supporting education -- can entice employees to stay and reduce turnover, Amos said.

It's that quality of life that has kept Brian Abeyta, Aflac's second vice president of information technology, at the company. Abeyta has participated in a number of Aflac volunteer projects, including Relay for Life and the CSU servant-leadership program. He has also raised more than $8,000 for the Aflac Cancer Center through marathon and Ironman triathlon sponsorships.

Abeyta -- whose volunteer work is mostly done during his off hours -- said time management is key for balancing work and volunteering. And making time pays off.

"It gives me a better sense of community," said Abeyta, who moved to Columbus from Atlanta in 2001. "That's something that was important to me when I moved to Columbus -- to see my fingerprints on the community."

United Way andscholarships

Corporate philanthropy indeed takes many forms throughout the area. There is giving to the United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley, a campaign that raises money for several dozen agencies and organizations.

For instance, TSYS, the electronic payment processor and a subsidiary of bankholding firm Synovus Financial Corp., is a huge contributor to United Way, having raised $1.1 million in the 2006 campaign.

The bulk of that, about $800,000, was pledged to local charities, while the remainder was donated at TSYS offices in Tempe, Ariz., Atlanta, Boise, Idaho, and St. Catharines, Ontario.

Columbus-based Synovus and TSYS also have the Jack Parker Scholarship Program, named in honor of the late Jack B. Parker, whose career with Synovus spanned 44 years. Gathering money in a grass-roots way to fund the education of staffers' children, the program awarded 100 scholarships totaling more than $190,000.

Since its inception in 1988, the foundation has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships.

"The money is raised by employees," said TSYS spokesman Eric Bruner. "They do lots of little fundraisers all year long, and it's a respectable sum of money for a scholarship program that started that way."

Unlike Aflac, which makes big donations to medical causes and issues, Bruner said TSYS is geared more toward community-based giving and causes.

"We're making community building-type investments because our people live here, our corporate home is here, all of the people that work here live here, and they intend for Columbus to be a nice place to live, raising the quality of life," he said.

Foundations playmajor role

There's also the Synovus Foundation, which was incorporated in 1998 to decide what groups and organizations receive money for worthwhile activities and projects. Its roots date back to 1969, with the founding of CB&T Charitable Trust.

Examples of its philanthropic donations throughout the area in recent years include:

• $140,000 for a new technology center at the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation in Warm Springs, Ga.

• Partial funding of a $1.25 million endowment for LaGrange College in LaGrange, Ga.

• Helping to fund a $2.5 million endowment to start up the Chattahoochee Valley Community Foundation.

• $100,000 for the construction of a Columbus Hospice in-patient care center.

• $30,000 to help launch a credit union in the struggling Beallwood area of Columbus.

• $100,000 to construct a new Easter Seals facility on the north side of Columbus.

On a larger scale is the Bradley-Turner Foundation, which takes a low-key approach to donating money throughout the community. The foundation's funding comes from the businesses W.C. Bradley Co., Synovus, Columbus Bank & Trust, and investments through the years, including stock in soft drink giant Coca-Cola.

Examples of its giving in recent years include:

• $25 million to the Columbus State University Foundation capital campaign that helped fund the arts and theater facilities in downtown

• $6.5 million to the National Infantry Museum being constructed on the border of Columbus and Fort Benning. Schuster Enterprises, the local Burger King operator, also donated $1 million.

• $20 million to help construct the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts downtown.

• $4 million to the University of Georgia Terry College of Business to pay for student programs in the Institute for Leadership Advancement.

At the time of the UGA gift in 2001, it was reported that the Bradley-Turner Foundation had donated more than $150 million to cultural, educational and religious organizations since 1943.

Charity workgood for business

Although Columbus Bank & Trust Co., a Synovus affiliate, raised $91,500 for United Way, Helen Johnson believes local philanthropy goes far beyond the dollar signs. The vice president of community development with CB&T says it's about volunteering time. For instance, the Habitat for Humanity and House of Heroes programs, aimed at constructing and remodeling housing, respectively, are popular with employees.

"Our team members love working for a company that they can be proud of what the company's doing," she said. "That cannot be discounted in today's workplace because people like to be part of something that they feel hits the overall good."

CB&T and Synovus Foundation receive plenty of requests for charitable contributions, Johnson said. Areas that get plenty of consideration include arts and culture, children and youth, community enrichment, education and human services, such as those with medical needs.

"But the questions we almost always ask: Does it address an under-served group -- usually economically -- and will this program that we're going to support help improve their situation," she said.

And, yes, CB&T does foster the notion that donating time and money throughout Columbus is good business and does benefit the financial bottom line, Johnson said. It's part of the company's philosophy and strategy -- trying to always keep the community's major needs in mind.

"On a business side, it's the right thing for us to do because we've made our money here," she said. "If the community's not successful, we're not successful, and we know that. We also know that we want to keep the community strong, so our corporate donations are looked at strictly at reinvesting in this community. We do that based on programs that will help the most people, that will enrich their lives, that will help education, that will help them grow financially."

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/business/16787079.htm?source=rss&channel=ledgerenquirer_business

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