3 Strategies for Genuine Community Involvement Make a Positive Impact
Even if most of your clients are located in other parts of the globe, the place your business calls home is a huge part of your identity. When a company makes a point to get involved locally, it’s doing more than making new connections and getting its brand out there — it’s also making a positive impact on the place it calls home. Most companies experience a slowdown in the summer. Here are some strategies to take advantage of that lull and create a plan for your business to get involved in the community and be a good neighbor. SUPPORT A LOCAL CHARITY Every town boasts its share of charities and nonprofits looking to make a difference. Find a cause you believe in, then help out. This could mean donating a portion of your revenue to a local women’s shelter, volunteering as a company at the soup kitchen, or sponsoring a gala that raises money for a children’s hospital. Supporting charities demonstrates your values and attracts the kinds of customers who share them. JOIN A PARADE This sounds unconventional, but sometimes it pays to think outside the box. Most towns put on a Fourth of July parade in the summer, so why
not join in? Building a float could be a great team-building exercise, and a lot of people will turn up and see your mobile advertisement in the parade. Being in the parade shows that you’re part of the community, and when you top it all off by tossing candy to the kids, you’ll really make an impact. WORK WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS Your company could donate school supplies or even sponsor a program. Art and music programs are often the first to suffer from budget cuts, so support from a local business could make a huge difference. Donate art supplies to the classroom, sponsor high school theater productions, or offer scholarships to help young musicians pay for new instruments. Keep the arts alive by helping the kids in your community do what they love. These suggestions require time and resources to pull off, but making the effort can transform your company from just another business in a sea of many to a pillar in your community.
Grilled Portobello Mushrooms
Take a
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Ingredients • 4 tbsp olive oil
Directions • 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar • 2 shakes of soy sauce • 1 clove garlic, peeled and halved • 1/4 cup fresh parsley • 1/2 tsp salt • Cracked pepper to taste • 4 portobello mushrooms, scrubbed with stems removed 1. In a gallon-sized zip-close bag, combine olive oil, balsamic, soy sauce, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper. 2. Marinate mushrooms in bag for up to 24 hours. 3. Grill at medium heat for about 4–6 minutes on each side until heated through and the mushrooms’ caps begin to look dry.
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