Commitment to “Good Works”

JP Morgan Chase and Company has always been deeply committed to doing good works in the community. It is an essential part of what we do — and who we are — as a firm. As such, we have intensified our corporate responsibility efforts and sharpened our focus on employee volunteer service.

It is the contribution of the employees of the firm —and their individual and collective dedication to community service that results in meaningful positive change in our communities.

In 2008, the firm created a volunteer leadership structure to support community service. Currently there are more than 500 volunteer leaders in place working in 39 volunteer leadership groups across 35 markets in the U.S. In 2010 this effort will expand internationally, where thousands of employees are already involved in numerous community service projects.

This year when Haiti was struck by a major earthquake, more than 13,000 employees responded by donating more than $1 million to CARE, UNICEF, World Vision and The American Red Cross. The firm matched $1 million of employee donations to this disaster.

Celebrating Volunteer Service

At the 2010 National Conference on Volunteering and Service, Jamie Dimon -- President and CEO, JPMorgan Chase and Company announced that employees have already donated 100,000 hours to charities this year and said the bank would double its goal to 200,000 hours, or nearly 23 years of service.

The corporate challenge, titled “Celebration of Service” has the goal of mobilizing large numbers of employees to respond to pressing local issues in their communities, including developing safe and affordable housing, fighting hunger, school improvement and providing financial education training.

Approach to Community Service

Employee Involvement in “Good Works”

Through the firm’s leading edge technology, employees can create a personal volunteer profile on the firm’s “Good Works” web site.  Once this profile is registered, employees receive email alerts any time a local, company sponsored volunteer activity that aligns with their skill sets, interest areas for service or timeframes for volunteering is posted on the site. Since rolling out this program more than 50,000 employees have logged their profiles. What’s more, the Good Works site is a one stop shop for volunteer coordinators to post events, manage rosters and communicate with registered employees.

Rewarding Personal Volunteer Efforts

The firm matches employee volunteer hours with a monetary gift. Employees can apply for an individual or team volunteer grant when they complete as little as 15 hours of service within a 12 month period. Grants range from a $150–$1,000 for the qualifying nonprofit where the service was performed. The more service employees or teams complete, the more money their charities receive. In 2009, the firm awarded nearly 3,000 grants totaling nearly $800,000.

At Target, corporate responsibility and community service come naturally. They’ve built their reputation on a legacy of service – service to their guests, service to their team and service to their community.

It’s because of this legacy of service that Points of Light Institute and the Corporation for National and Community Service were proud to welcome Target as the Title Sponsor for the 2010 National Conference on Volunteering and Service (NCVS), the world's largest gathering of volunteer and service leaders from the nonprofit, government and corporate sectors.

Spanning three days, from June 28-30, the NCVS in New York City featured service projects, workshops and celebrations for the volunteers who are changing their world each and every day. The conference was an engaging and energizing moment for the national service movement – made possible by Target through support of more than $1.1 million.

One of the most memorable conference events this year was the Target Party for Good.  Promoted as the ultimate volunteer experience—a service project in a party atmosphere – the Target Party for Good entertained and inspired guests with unexpected surprises while at the same time making a difference in the local community.  DuringParty for Good guests packaged more than 150,000 meals for New York children and families.   Throughout the evening, kit packing milestones were celebrated with performances, celebrity greetings, and refreshments. The night was not only fun to attend, it demonstrated an innovative model for combining service with celebration.

Target has long been an innovator in the service sector. Here are just a few highlights:

Since 2007, Target Volunteers have improved more than 2,000 libraries through the Target School Library Makeovers program, by giving $500 book awards to local schools and transforming 44 libraries with complete makeovers.  In 2010, Target team members will improve over 1,700 K-12 school libraries across the country, including 32 complete library makeovers featuring light construction, new design elements, furniture, shelves, computers, fresh paint and 2,000 new books.

Target is providing significant support for the Corporation for National and Community Service initiative 2010 United We Serve Let’s Read. Let’s Move.  The initiativeseeks to combat childhood obesity and summer reading loss by encouraging our nation’s youth to engage in summer reading, become more physically fit, and make healthy food choices.  An Administration-wide effort led by the Corporation in collaboration with First Lady Michelle Obama, the program engages four federal agencies – Department of Education, Department of Interior, Department of Health and Human Services, and Department of Agriculture.

In 2009, Target provided volunteer program support by underwriting groundbreaking research, conducted by Civic Enterprises, on the civic lives of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and the role volunteerism and service plays in easing their transitions home. The study looked forward for how our nation can better integrate veterans into civilian life through volunteer and civic engagement.

Points of Light Institute was proud to partner with Target for the 2010 National Conference on Volunteering and Service – and looks forward to partnering again next year in New Orleans!