Healthy relationships are good for you — and in my experience, this is as true for companies as it is for people. At Molina Healthcare of Ohio, our involvement with community partners has enhanced our reputation, raised brand awareness, allowed us to model our mission in action and motivated everyone in the company to do our best.
Giving back can improve the bottom line, too. Eighty-two percent of U.S. consumers consider corporate social responsibility when deciding how to spend money, according to a May 2013 Cone Communications study.
If your company is ready to reap more rewards from community partnerships, now is the time. Here are some strategies that can produce excellent results.
Support volunteerism
Encouraging employees to volunteer is great. Making it easy and financially rewarding for them to donate their time and money is even better.
Molina offers volunteer time off, giving employees paid time off to donate 16 hours per year to the charitable institution of their choice. If employees don’t have a group in mind, our Employee Activities Committee identifies opportunities that will be rewarding and convenient, while also serving our membership.
The volunteer time off pays immeasurable dividends in employee pride, community appreciation and positive word of mouth as employees talk up the program — all while helping organizations that serve the greater good.
Donate your expertise
No doubt, there are nonprofit organizations near you that could benefit from your business experience.
We encourage our leaders to get involved; they currently represent eight board seats at various organizations. I, myself, am honored to serve on the board of directors at the Children’s Defense Fund and Hands On Central Ohio. In return for my time, I get to work on projects of personal interest. I’m also able to network with other business leaders who serve on these boards, people I wouldn’t have met otherwise.
Collaborate with like-minded organizations
A way to demonstrate the integrity of your business is to partner with associations that align with your corporate values. Molina works with community organizations to identify a need and then help fill it.
As two organizations that prize healthy living, the YMCA and Molina make perfect partners. Recently, we were able to connect exercise and healthy eating in the minds of kids at the Y’s Saturday Sampler in Cincinnati. Children made smoothies in blenders using “smoothie bikes”— stationary bikes powered by pedaling.
Create your own event
At Molina, as we work with others who serve low-income individuals and families, we often meet people who inspire us.
For the past five years, we’ve been able to shine a light on the good deeds of everyday heroes with our Community Champions Awards. Recipients are voted on by the community, and honored with an awards dinner and a $1,000 grant for the nonprofit of their choice. This special program makes me proud to be a part of Molina Healthcare, while also contributing to the success of the company. •
Amy Schultz Clubbs is the plan president of Molina Healthcare of Ohio, the state’s second largest Medicaid Managed Care plan with 262,000 members.
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