Social Responsibility can be defined as the ethical and moral duties of individuals, institutions and corporations to contribute to the betterment of people and society. It is comprised of individual and corporate acts that recognize the rights of others and contribute to the well-being of all humankind. Individual acts of social responsibility are the other-centered decisions we make to positively impact people, communities and the planet. Corporate Social responsibility encompasses not only what companies do with their profits, but also how they make profits and how their business impacts their employees, consumers, families, the community in which they conduct business and the world at large. In the faith community is it not only how you serve your own members and build your congregation, but how you build out God's kingdom of love, justice and righteousness to promote the inherent value of every human being. In the realm of sports it involves how institutions, leagues and coaches support and implement the ideas that the social, emotional, educational and moral well-being of players is every bit as important as the team's win-loss record.

 

A growing body of evidence asserts that corporations, institutions and teams can do well by doing good. Many have already proven that they can differentiate their brands and reputations, as well as their products and servces if they take responsibility for the well-being of their people and the people around them. Below are some of the groups I had the privilege of working with this past month.