Doing Good is Good Business

I’ve had the benefit of spending most of my 35+ year professional career in the Twin Cities.  For me, there’s never been a question about the importance of businesses giving back to the community and credit goes to my most important mentors - Padilla CEOs John Beardsley and Lynn Casey. Both made it clear that being “plugged in” to the community is bi-directional.  While we share time, treasure and talent, we also get benefits – a broader perspective, new experiences and stronger connections.

Our corporate social responsibility program, Padilla PluggedIn, embodies this through individual volunteerism, pro bono work and charitable contributions. It’s a living example of how doing good for the community enriches our own culture and grows our people.

Whether we’re supporting focused organizations like Pillsbury United Communities or those that bring a “multiplier effect” like the Greater Twin Cities United Way, we’re both giving and receiving at the same time. Our chili cook-off and silent auction didn’t just raise money – it gave us all a chance to connect during a time when hybrid and remote work environments can make us feel a bit fragmented and isolated. And our day of assembling “Welcome Home” kits for individuals transitioning into stable housing reminded us that not everyone has a safe and secure place to sleep at the end of the day.

Additionally, by offering every employee an individual paid “day of service,” we champion work that is meaningful to them while also gaining valuable perspective on a range of causes, from inclusiveness to food insecurity to rescue animals. And we celebrate those efforts through our Volunteer of the Quarter program.

We also encourage and reward board service, which allows us to go deep into issues that we care about in the community and gain important experience along the way. Some of my most valuable leadership skills came from serving on boards like the Arthritis Foundation, Pheasants Forever, Greater Twin Cities United Way and Science Museum of Minnesota. Other civic leaders at Padilla have benefited as well, supporting organizations like the East Town Business Partnership, Itasca Project, Minneapolis Downtown Council, BestPrep, Northern Star Scouting, University of Minnesota Cancer Philanthropic Board and Minneapolis Parks Foundation.

We’re also helping shape, uplift and support the next generation of public relations professionals through the Take Flight externship. Developed in partnership with other local communications agencies, it provides career exploration for students who may not have ever considered the field. Now in its fifth year, Take Flight has connected dozens of students from 10 colleges and universities with coaching, workshops and that ever-important first internship. Meanwhile colleagues are obtaining mentoring skills and perspective from people who may have different paths to the profession than their own.

This reflects who we are as individuals and as a firm: dedicated, diverse, and driven professionals making a difference for clients and communities. My hope is that our journey inspires others to see that sharing time, treasure and talent brings mutual value to both the community and the company. It’s part of what makes the Twin Cities a unique place to live and work.

This article originally appeared in Twin Cities Business.