Social Responsibility in 2009...College Mentors For Kids

As 2009 approaches, my company, Slingshot, has really been looking to be more socially responsible. I'm a recycling nazi (just ask my co-workers and family), and I was really excited to have gone to the recycling center to get the office a blue recycling bin ( you know, to kind of make it "official") :-), but really, there is way more to being socially responsible than recycling (although it is a good start).

For a while, we had been looking for something to stand behind. An organization that was going above and beyond to make a difference. I am so excited to say that we finally found one: College Mentors For Kids. And how perfect is this for Slingshot considering we work with juniors and seniors in college as well as recent grads? So, it's right up our alley.

I had never heard of this program before, but while we were in a meeting with College Mentor's VP of Development, I absolutely could not stop smiling. Does this ever happen to you? Do you ever get so excited to be a part of something and ideas just come toppling over you that you can hardly contain yourself? Well, that's how I felt, and that is why I had to write this blog about not only College Mentors, but also about being socially responsible.

I find that it's true when "they" say it feels better to give than to get. Every college student that is involved in this program (we are talking almost every single college and university in Indiana (there are about 21 including a school in Illinois) from Anderson to Butler to Wabash) is taking time each week to hang out with children who don't even know college is an option because it certainly is not the norm for their families. The college students who take time to do this are special. They are givers. I know how much time it takes to go to school and do a good job. I also know that time is scarce, and how unselfish are these students to take time they may not even have to help make a difference in a child's life? To me, that is amazing and there is crazy leadership potential in these students.

It excites me to see the millennial generation ( which I am extremely proud to be a part of ) give back to our children, our less fortunate families, and our communities. With that being said, what are your goals in 2009 for giving back? What is your company doing or supporting? Or what are you personally doing? If you haven't considered anything so far, I really encourage you to do so.