How to Make a Difference: PwC & the Gangs of Chicago

PwC’s 3-Tiered Strategy for Community Investment (USA)

This month, we can’t stop talking about PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) USA. 

PwC USA has a solid track record of significant community investment. In recent years, under the insightful leadership of

But wait – let me back up….

 

The Five Millions Kids Initiative

Earlier this year, PwC launched a partnership with Operation HOPE to teach financial literacy and empowerment. The Five Million Kids Initiative (5MK) would require PwC to commit it’s 525 intern volunteers to work on some of the toughest high school campuses across the country. For many young students, math and money have little connection. The 5MK initiative makes education feel relevant to students through practical lessons in the “language of money.” It is meant to be a key aspect in curbing soaring high school drop-out rates in some of the most economically affected areas across the United States.

An initiative like this presents notable risks – it is not something to jump into unprepared. Shannon explains that the partnership is an extension of a strategic focus that PwC has been building over the years.

 

PwC’s 3-Tiered Strategy for Community Investment

1. The Right Perspective.

It takes effort to see from a perspective other than our own, but its necessary when the desire to “make a difference” is genuine. PwC shifted their corporate view to that of the students in low-income school districts. What are their lives like? What difficulties do they face? Why do they struggle with learning? One basic need became clear: they’re hungry.

PwC employed the help of Feeding America and provided breakfast for children who would otherwise spend the day distracted by a growling tummy.

2. The Right Foundation.

When they started with the right perspective, PwC was able to consider another basic issue: by the time kids in low-income schools get to high school, they have already missed years of essential training in the foundational concepts of math and money. Without a strong base, the difficulty of learning financial literacy is multiplied.

PwC decided to provide the right foundation by engaging the MIND Research Institute, which uses innovative techniques to engage student’s visual reasoning abilities to solve multi-step problems. By the time these kids reach high school, they are primed to learn math for life skills.

3. The Right Partner.

The choice to focus their community investment initiatives on math and money came naturally to PwC.  Shannon Schuyler explains, “Money is the core of what we do. Our people can teach this because we know it. ” The alignment of business strengths and resources with community solutions makes sense for PwC.

FOLLOW THIS LINK TO CONTINUE:

VolunteerSpot : Measuring the Strength of Your Volunteer Program: Summer of Service

I talk to companies every week about employee volunteer programs. It doesn’t seem to matter if the company is local business or a multi-national Fortune 500 corporation. Invariably the conversation begins with the question of how to get more employees to participate as volunteers. Next, we explore how the volunteering program fits within the company and what the outcomes have been so far. Finally, we talk about metrics. What is the data telling you? Usually, this brings us right back to the beginning of the conversation: participation rates and how to increase that number.

It makes sense that a successful corporate volunteer program is well attended by employees, but that’s not necessarily an indication of strength or sustainability. So in these conversations I try to share at least two alternative measures to use that get at the health of a volunteering program.

1. Motivation. Why are people volunteering?

Understanding the reasons why people participate is essential to discovering the program’s long term potential.  When people volunteer for the first time, they are usually motivated extrinsically. This is completely normal. We all want to help; give back; make a difference. But if we’ve not volunteered before, we usually don’t “own” these motivations. Instead, they are extrinsic to our personal lives and they exist outside of us. They are not intimate. While extrinsic motivations are important, they are not deeply rooted in our personalities.

Eventually, if volunteering programs are designed well, people will begin to discover their intrinsic motivations for volunteering. Intrinsic motivations are tied to our sense of self. This kind of motivation is connected to who we are. It is essential that people transition from a general sense of ‘it’s the right thing to do’ to highly personal reasons.  Why? Obviously the more we are personally invested, the greater our commitment. The question isn’t, “How many people are showing up?” but rather, “How much of each person showed up.”

Follow this link for a video of me discussing motivation.

via blog.volunteerspot.com

Following Your Personal Sustainability Passion

The web is full of information on going green, living a sustainable lifestyle and advice on personal sustainability.   For many, this mountain of information can be confusing and at times a little overwhelming.  A common question we receive from friends, peers and clients is: “Where do I begin?”  As we so often emphasized: what works for one may not be the right fit for another.

Within our sustainability consulting experience, we have found that one of the keys to a successful personal sustainability plan is linking sustainability concepts to personal interest or even personal passion.  By this, we mean finding the “personal” in your personal plan.  It has to work for you!!!

 Personal sustainability is a continuous improvement process that challenges an individual to constantly expand personal eco awareness.   This may seem obvious but it is so true.  There isn’t any one single defined path to sustainable living: there isn’t a beginning and there isn’t an end.  Personal sustainability is your journey of discovery.

In a recent post, Exploring the Value in Personal Sustainability, we defined some of the drivers, challenges, and big opportunities.   We emphasized following your passions and avoiding sustainability concepts that simply do not fit your lifestyle.  Start by:

•    Following the path that is most inspiring to you.
•    Expanding your eco awareness on these topics, then shift to alternative choices and behavior changes.
•    Don’t try to take it all on at once, remember small changes add up.
•    Consistency over volume: daily and regular practices have the most impact.
•    Reward your successes.
•    Momentum brings visibility to previously inaccessible ideas and behaviors.
•    From your personal sustainability success will come new inspiration.

By capitalizing on the power of inspiration and focusing on personal value drivers in the pursuit of a more sustainable lifestyle, anyone can build a personal sustainability plan that works for them.  Our personal consulting works with clients to build a personal sustainability programs that add value by expanding personal eco awareness, encouraging the experimentation with sustainability concepts, and taking steps to implement actions that meet specific sustainable lifestyle needs.  Start by following your own sustainability passions today!

Personal Sustainability Planning to Beat the Coming Summer Heat

For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, the spring season is here.  With the changing weather and increasing temperatures, comes a recognition that the summer heat is right around the corner, which typically translates to higher energy consumption and expenses at our homes and businesses.  What can we do now to beat the coming summer heat?

An important first step in implementing sustainability concepts, such as energy efficiency, involves gaining access to information and expanded awareness.  Our eco living consulting commonly asks: do you know where your high impact opportunities are in your home?

The added summer heat load in combination with normal consumption can place high demands on the grid and our pocket books.  So what can we do to beat the heat and manage our energy bill this summer?

•    Gain insight into daily consumption patterns.
•    Evaluate the equipment consuming the most energy.
•    Define peak time and avoid high peak usage.
•    Minimize energy losses.

Active management of daily consumption can stabilize energy expenses and contribute to an overall business sustainability plan and a sustainable lifestyle.  Our small business resources and personal consulting advises clients to focus on solutions that have immediate and long term impact.  While there is a myriad of energy efficient technologies available today, the sustainability concept of energy conservation is a solution within everyone’s budget and circle of influence.  Gain insight into your consumption and look for opportunities today.