THE FOUNDATION FOR CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IS A NETWORK OF INTERNATIONAL CORPORATE CEOs ACTIVELY WORKING IN POLAND TO AFFECT POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE THROUGH CORPORATE PHILANTHROPY. OUR MISSION IS TO LEAD THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN RAISING THE LEVEL AND QUALITY OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. THE FOUNDATION’S 90 MEMBERS INCLUDE CEOs OF SOME OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST AND MOST WELL-REGARDED CORPORATIONS FROM A DIVERSE AND BROAD RANGE OF INDUSTRY SECTORS.

September 6, 2010, Vol. 7, No. 28

"A good heart is better than all the heads in the world."

- Edward Bulwer-Lytton

Elements of a strong, productive workforce include employees who are educated and armed with skills for today’s global market; workers able to perform at their peak, knowing their family’s medical concerns will be addressed; a community with roads and transportation systems that facilitate easy access to the workplace; and a region that is committed to clean air and safe drinking water.

These elements make it possible for an entire workforce to give its very best day after day. These characteristics apply not only to workers in the business community, but also to 2.7 million civilians who work for the U.S. federal government and 13 million people in America’s nonprofit community. It is in the best interest of all sectors to take responsibility for the people and natural resources on which they rely.

Many businesses have used their corporate foundations, social responsibility programs, and outreach efforts to help create a climate that fosters a positive view of their firm. Such activities are welcome and encouraged for sure. Equally, if not more important, is recognizing and acting on the fundamental principle that it is in the best interest of business to attend to the larger environment in which it operates.

Being a good corporate citizen is one thing; building communities in which people thrive and work to their maximum potential is another. Companies like Wal-Mart, Ben & Jerry’s, and others have internalized this notion to the benefit of the triple bottom line of helping people, earning profit, and tending to our planet. Perhaps one of the most effective ways to create wealth for shareholders and stakeholders is for a business to leverage its powerful assets – innovation, efficiency, and creativity among them – to improve human lives and the world in which we live. Doing so reflects not only enlightened self-interest, but sound business practice. Like business, the government and nonprofit sectors are also dependent on the wider environment in which they operate. Productivity drops across the board when employees or their family members don’t have access to suitable medical care. Every establishment – from the supermarket to the town hall to the local theater company – shuts down when a storm ravages an unprepared community. It is in the best interest of all sectors to take responsibility for the people and natural resources on which they rely.

“Being a good corporate citizen is one thing; participating in the very real work of building communities in which people thrive and work to their maximum potential is another.”

I was just thinking…

We are very happy to announce that Capgemini, a global leader in consulting, technology, outsourcing, and local professional services, has become a new member of the Foundation for Corporate Social Responsibility. We will welcome Capgemini into our midst at Friday’s CEO Breakfast meeting at the Warsaw Sheraton Hotel. Capgemini becomes the 92nd member of our Foundation and we thank them for taking this very responsible business step.

The Headquarters of Capgemini is in Paris, France and it operates in more than 30 countries around the world including Poland. It is, above all, a people company with over 95,000 people in North America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region. Management and support roles aside, its employees are grouped into major disciplines, each of which is governed by its specific economic rules, and managed with its own profit center.

Capgemini leads the way by providing clients with insights and capabilities that boost their freedom to achieve superior results. Their clients are operating in a complex environment, often under huge constraints and pressures which limit their freedom. Capgemini believes in sharing its own freedom, independence from software editors, hardware manufacturers, entrepreneurial spirit, values and creativity, with its clients.

Capgemini has the know-how, spirit and capabilities to give clients the tools to steer their own course, and ultimately to achieve better, faster and more lasting transformation.
What also sets Capgemini apart is the way it works together with its partners and its clients. They call their approach the Collaborative Business Experience® - it’s at the heart of our every interaction and is how they forge closer, more effective relationships.

We look forward to working closely with Capgemini CEO for Poland Frank Wagenbauer and his team of professionals in helping make life in Poland better for our PromiseKids.

Responsible investing doesn't require one to sacrifice profits for ethics. That's the message delivered by Rafał Matusiak, president of financial institution TFI SKOK, at a recent conference on ethical investing. Analysts agree environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) issues can indeed affect the performance of investment portfolios, as investors begin to scrutinize a company's ethical practices more closely.

To that end, TFI SKOK is launching SKOK FIO Etyczny 2, Poland's second ethical investment fund...

COMMITTED CEOS

A committed CEO is crucial to the sustainable success of an organization’s philanthropy initiatives. The CEO has the ability to inspire employee participation in the giving program, and by leading the company’s efforts, the CEO greatly enhances an organization’s credibility to customers and other stakeholders – strengthening public trust and the authenticity of the company’s philanthropy.

We are a Foundation of CEOs working for positive change through corporate Philanthropy.

One of my last tasks this week was to mail out the incredible breakfast menu Sheraton prepared for our 65 breakfast participant CEOs. I say it is going to be incredible because it is going to be incredible. The Sheraton staff is putting the final touches on the room arrangements and decorations. The “bells” and “whistles” have been arranged, and the Sheraton culinary staff is preparing their masterpieces just for us. While they are doing this, our PromiseLand girls are preparing themselves for their brief over night in Warsaw, and Natalie in checking every detail. “Oh, Natalie, don’t forget the six new-member Gold Seals of Approval plaques we will present to Fanex, RealJobs, Medicover Farm Frites, De Lage Landen, and Capgemini.” And Virginia, don’t forget the Foundation Banner. Now, let’s see… the photographer is alerted, the music is all set and the new DVDs are at the ready. I think we are prepared to greet the most distinguished group of Industry leaders in Poland at 0830 on Friday at the Warsaw Sheraton.

If you are CEO of one of our member companies and find that you can attend the breakfast after all, please let Natalie know before Wednesday. Sorry, this is just for our CEOs!

The “Dreams Come True” planning committee will meet at 12:00 in the offices of Randstad on Thursday September 9th. The committee is composed of representatives of member companies: Dell, Randstad, Rabobank and British Chamber of Commerce.

You will recall that we had 150 PromiseKids in last year’s program and we hope to have equally as many this October 1st. If you are interested in supporting a PromiseKid or a group of PromiseKids(s), please let us know.
 

 

August 24-September 5th – Makro Cash & Carry Back-to-school Fundraising Campaign for our Hot Meal Program

September 9, 2010 - “Dreams Come True” English Language Program Committee Meeting at the Randstad Offices in the SwedeCenter at 12:00

September 10, 2010 – Foundation CEO Breakfast at the Warsaw Sheraton at 0830.

September 23-24th – CEO Trip to the PromiseLand

"You just can't beat the person who won't give up."

-- Babe Ruth