Wanting to Do More
Like many companies, Cox Communications has a strong corporate giving program that supports community organizations. However, the employees of Cox here in San Diego have gone far beyond the standard model. Eleven years ago, they created a grassroots, employee-driven group called the Cox Kids Foundation to help local children and families in need. Since then, they have pooled their resources to raise more than $3.3 million! As Jimmy Trunecek, a Cox employee and Cox Kids Foundation member, puts it, “I’m so proud to work for a company that promotes community involvement and encourages every employee to get involved.”
The Power of Employees
The Cox Kids Foundation is made up entirely of Cox employees donating both their money and their time. Nearly half of Cox workers (almost 1,000 people) contribute part of their paychecks to the foundation. Members can give at any level—be it $1 or $100 each pay period—and the company fully matches their donations. But it’s more than just giving money: employees are passionate about the community, and drive the process from start to finish. Forty board members, many of whom are front-line employees, volunteer beyond their day jobs to manage the foundation and decide how funds are allocated.
The foundation provides these employees with a double opportunity: to engage in the community and to develop professionally. Cox’s Betsy Brown notes that being part of the board gave her the chance to partner with other employees in service to the community and that “the rewards were so amazing,” improving the lives of San Diego families.
Supporting Education, Youth, and Technology
The Cox Kids Foundation board distributes about $400,000 annually through several programs. Cox Heroes Scholarships help local students (both graduating high school seniors and adults returning to school) further their education in college or vocational programs—and Cox employees often stay in touch with these students. Innovation in Education grants support imaginative middle school projects, from literacy programs involving graphic novels and puppets to worm farms. Cox Kids Foundation member Michael Caro says, “The opportunity to provide a much needed financial resource to schools at a time when budget cuts are the order of the day makes me proud.”
Beyond these cornerstone programs, Cox employees select a funding focus each year, such as military families or child abuse prevention. Employees who contribute to the foundation also get involved by recommending their favorite nonprofits to receive grants. Additionally, Cox Kids Foundation is the official technology sponsor of Make-A-Wish Foundation. When children with life-threatening illnesses ask for their very own computers, Cox employees join Make-A-Wish representatives to deliver computers and install high-speed internet service.
What Does This Mean About Philanthropy?
Cox Kids Foundation reflects how employees can be deeply involved in corporate philanthropy, as both givers and volunteers. While $1 out of a paycheck might not go far on its own, combined with the time and money supplied by a thousand other people, as well as contributions matched by the company, it makes a real difference. Cox Kids Foundation member Beth Holmes echoes this: “The work that the Cox Kids Foundation does is a way for Cox employees to support those who are working to better themselves, their circumstances and/or impact the world around them. This foundation enables the freedom to pursue your dreams.”
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