constructed homes. What’s more, the manufacturer’s
employees, who’ve rolled up their sleeves to build
homes, “now have a new sense of pride in their
employer,” says Cone.
SHUTTERSTOCK
• A global fast-food franchise. To help raise
awareness of hunger and save hundreds of
thousands of people from starvation, the company
collaborated with the U.N. World Food Programme
during World Hunger Relief Week in October
to mobilize nearly 1 million of its employees to
volunteer their efforts and raise funds from its
more than 125 million weekly customers.
and then monitoring the programs for a return
on investment.”
SOME SUCCESSFUL
PARTNERSHIPS INCLUDE:
• A manufacturer of major household
appliances. Committed to providing affordable
housing for all, the company has teamed up with
Habitat for Humanity, sponsoring advertisements for
the nonprofit and providing appliances for newly
• A technology education coalition. By partnering with UNICEF and the International Rescue
Committee, several hardware and software manufacturers are developing distance-learning programs
for the displaced children of Iraq and other areas of
the Middle East to build a sustainable work force.
Even in the United States, “there’s increasing
recognition that our education systems aren’t
preparing people for the jobs out there,” says Business
Civic Leadership Center’s Jordan. “So we’re seeing
more companies looking [to get involved in] early
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
IS THE SOUL OF STAPLES
Last year, hundreds of Staples associates volunteered to support organizations in their communities. At the same time, the Staples Foundation for Learning, the cornerstone of Staples’
philanthropic work, awarded grants to national
and local charities that serve hundreds of communities throughout the U.S. and the world.
Staples calls this commitment to corporate
responsibility “Staples Soul.” “Staples Soul is
what moves us to embrace diversity, sustain the
environment, give back to our communities and
practice sound ethics,” explains Doreen Nichols, vice president of associate relations and
global diversity. “Linking these core values with
our global business strategy contributes to our
financial success and helps us become a great
employer, corporate citizen and neighbor.”
Diversity and social responsibility are at the
top of mind whenever Staples partners with
local organizations and recruits associates that
reflect the face of the community when opening in new markets, Nichols says. What’s more,
Staples’ efforts are not limited to the U.S. For
more than 10 years, Staples Business Depot in
Canada has been a national sponsor of Special
Olympics Canada, raising $690,000 last year. In
2006, Staples UK raised $92,000 to support its
first national charity, ChildLine, a free hotline
that children and teenagers in the U.K. can call
to discuss any kind of problem.
The Staples Foundation for Learning has
also expanded internationally, supporting the
Ashoka Youth Venture, which provides guidance to youth undertaking entrepreneurial
endeavors both here and abroad. A 2006
grant of $500,000 brought the program to five
countries where it had never existed before—
Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany and Spain.
Last year, 10 Staples associates formed teams
and launched youth ventures in Argentina and
Brazil. Their ventures addressed issues ranging
from connecting the elderly with young orphans
through theater to helping poor artisans export
their products.
“Supporting the communities that support
you, here and abroad, is the right thing to do,”
says Nichols. “If you’re good to the community,
the community will be good to you.”
