Linda O’Sullivan
Head of Social Inclusion, Business in the Community
The holiday season is an opportunity to connect with the spirit of giving and make a positive impact on individuals and families in need, especially those facing financial hardship, food insecurity or homelessness.
Many organisations run festive campaigns, such as donating proceeds from specific products, organising employee-led charity events or partnering with charities focused on issues such as homelessness, children in need or elder loneliness.
Corporate donations and volunteer opportunities
Toy appeals, food parcels or charity fundraising events, for instance, can boost team morale and foster a sense of unity and purpose among employees. They can also offer a company an impactful way of engaging with customers and partners.
A good example of this is Enterprise Mobility’s annual Friends and Family Cinema Event to support the Dublin Simon Community. This year, they hosted a private screening of Paddington in Peru. They invited customers and partners to bring their families to the cinema and provided treats for the children and adults attending. In return, guests were asked to bring a small ‘Winter Woolie’ donation.
Values-aligned charity boosts business
Aligning with charity partners or initiatives that reflect core business values not only drives social impact but also benefits the company by enhancing brand reputation, fostering skills development and boosting employee satisfaction.
Corporate generosity during the
holiday season can create lasting change.
Sustainable handcrafted toys for children
For example, for over 50 years, Sisk carpentry and joinery apprentices have been making and delivering toys to sick or disadvantaged children at Christmas time. The toys are handcrafted using 70% recycled wooden materials from timber off-cuts.
“Our toy story is culturally engrained into the business and is a testament to the family culture within Sisk; it gives everyone connected with it a real sense of pride. It is a key part of our apprenticeship programme that enables us to mould good people upon completion of their time with us,” shared Ronan Murphy, Sisk Joinery and Training Manager.
Corporate generosity fosters unity
By engaging in charitable initiatives, businesses not only demonstrate their commitment to social impact but can also inspire their employees, customers and partners to come together for a common cause. Whether through donations, volunteer work or community events, the collective impact of corporate generosity during the holiday season can create lasting change and foster a sense of unity that extends well beyond the festive period.
