Mac Perlich
Submitted photo
By Mac Perlich | Act One
Right now, maybe more than ever, nonprofit organizations need the backing of community members and businesses to provide support to the people they serve.
One of the most important and impactful pieces of this equation is dedicated businesses and corporations that see value in contributing to the communities in which their customers, stakeholders and employees live and work.
Corporate social responsibility is founded on the belief that a business strives not only to be successful, but also to have a positive impact on society and the people who live in the community. In an ideal situation, the company not only values its industry and employees, but also values the children and families of its communities.
Historically, companies tend to support social causes through donations, volunteer work and corporate giving. In fact, many companies in years past had a designated corporate social responsibility department that oversaw the company’s program of giving back to the community. These departments are sadly less common now and yet needed more than ever.
As business owners and co-founders of a nonprofit organization, my husband, Russ, and I are certain that employees want the companies they work for to support the community in which they live. After all, it is the responsible thing to do, right?
I often wonder what happened to the practice of corporate social responsibility. Look at the Phoenix business community, which has exploded in growth over the last two decades and continues to do so. As a community, shouldn’t we require the companies we do business with to commit to giving to the individuals and philanthropic groups around them?
Let’s start small. Companies could identify a cause or concern in the neighborhood, city or state where they do business, that speaks to them or aligns with the company value system. This would be an ideal opportunity for employee buy-in, especially with the loss of a sense of community after the “work from home” consequence of the pandemic. Who do they want to help; this could be defined by employee volunteer time, a corporate commitment of funds or both.
Corporate social responsibility resonates deeply with me, which is why my husband and I started the nonprofit organization, Act One, in 2011 to provide access to the arts to all Arizona children in Title I schools and their families.
Exposure to the arts is sadly absent in many schools and communities nowadays. Children who attend an Act One field trip, be it in person or through the innovative virtual reality program, experience something they may never get to see. These arts and culture experiences open a young person’s mind to creative thinking and provide opportunities for them to see themselves in others.
By giving a fourth grader, or the family that uses a no-cost culture pass, the opportunity for these enriching experiences, their lives can be altered for the better. Creative thinking is becoming a lost art, but the arts help bring that back. A young student whose mind is opened up to creative thinking will grow up to be a creative problem solver.
As a consumer, I implore my fellow Arizonans to vote with their pocketbooks. Do business with companies that align with your belief systems and support causes that are near and dear to your heart.
This type of impact may change the way businesses across Arizona support local nonprofit organizations — not only now but in the future. Let’s bring corporate social responsibility back into the mainstream. The amount of good that could be done in our community would be unimaginable.
Editor’s note: Linda “Mac” Perlich is an Arizona native, educator and entrepreneur who co-founded Act One with her husband, Russ, in 2011. Please send your comments to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
