Booz Allen Receives the Respected Partners in Philanthropy Award
The local nonprofit organizations that the Colorado Springs office supports honor the firm’s staff for their generous contributions.
At an event sponsored by Partners in Philanthropy in October 2008, the Colorado Springs office of Booz Allen Hamilton was lauded for its outstanding leadership in philanthropy and community involvement with an Outstanding Corporate Philanthropic Program award.
“This award recognizes our office’s community contributions as an ensemble, as opposed to a singular interaction,” says Booz Allen vice president Kurt Stevens. “It speaks to our impact on a broad scale.” Principal Ed Anderson accepted the award on behalf of the firm.
Booz Allen takes an “employee-centric” approach to philanthropy, aligning its resources with the charitable giving and volunteering interests of its officers, staff, and their families, and supporting them throughout their involvement.
“In 2008, Booz Allen supported 35 nonprofits in the Pikes Peak region with financial contributions of almost $130,000,” says senior associate Mark Lester, one of the Colorado Springs staff who takes an active role in their community.
“This award highlights the dedication of our staff to our local nonprofits, and Booz Allen’s leadership in the Colorado Springs business sector for our civic and charitable responsibility,” Lester continues. “Not only do our people get involved, we make a difference. This is another measure of excellence that sets our people apart from other companies.”
The office supported organizations such as the 2008 State Games of the West, Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce, Pikes Peak Encore Fund, SnoFest, Leadership Pikes Peak, Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo, Rebuilding Together, and the Air Force Association Ball. Staff also donated $10,000 through company-sponsored fundraisers to organizations such as Operation School Bell and ALS.
The group Partners in Philanthropy is comprised of the Center for Nonprofit Excellence, Pikes Peak Community Foundation, Pikes Peak United Way, and Pikes Peak Founders Forum. The annual event celebrates community philanthropy and recognizes donors and outstanding volunteer leadership.
The Center for Nonprofit Excellence notes in its newsletter that “Booz Allen is a company that believes good business and corporate citizenship go hand-in-hand. Firmwide, approximately 60% of its staff are engaged in community organizations and service activities. Booz Allen received this award for their ongoing financial and volunteer support of the Colorado Springs community.”
Stevens says, “We view ourselves as part of the community and as such, we should give back to it. In this way, we support the community in its development and evolution as we continue to grow ourselves. In that way, we help the community help us.”
From Donations to Volunteering, Many Ways to Get Involved
Individuals, corporations, and foundations are nominated for the Partners in Philanthropy award by the nonprofits that the honorees support with their financial donations and volunteer activities. Booz Allen was nominated by Leadership Pikes Peak, which the firm has supported since 1998.
Leadership Pikes Peak is a community leadership organization that serves as a gateway to community engagement by fostering the vision and courage of citizens to lead, developing community trustees, and facilitating their contributions.
“The firm demonstrates its core belief that good business and good corporate citizenship go together through its leadership and its employees’ spirit of service in the Pikes Peak region,” says Susan Saksa, executive director of Leadership Pikes Peak.
“The Partners in Philanthropy award is a very prestigious recognition that is difficult to win,” she adds. “It is great to see Booz Allen finally receive this richly deserved recognition, and to help highlight the difference they make here in Colorado Springs.”
Lester, a board member of Leadership Pikes Peak, notes that the award was especially important because the firm’s nomination was externally driven by the nonprofit community. “Because Booz Allen’s philanthropy is employee-centric, the financial commitment we make pales in comparison to the generosity of the contribution of our staff’s personal time and talent to the organizations they support,” he says.
“This award complements the internal Booz Allen Involvement & Impact Group Collaboration award our office received this year for supporting multiple nonprofits,” he continues. “Both awards recognized the sustained effort and large number of staff here in Colorado Springs that try to make our community a better place for everyone.”
Other Booz Allen staff sits on the boards of organizations such as the The Homefront Cares, Mountain Post Historical Center, Pikes Peak Workforce Investment Board, Pikes Peak Library District, and many more. The Colorado Springs office also helped spread the concept of involvement in community leadership programs to Booz Allen offices nationwide. For example, their involvement in Leadership Pikes Peak inspired other offices to participate in similar programs, such as Leadership Fairfax (Virginia), Leadership Santa Maria (California), Leadership Norfolk (Virginia), and other locations.
Saksa says, “Booz Allen received this recognition because their employees, families, and leadership value philanthropy and service. I value how Booz Allen has developed this corporate culture. We are a stronger community because of their contribution.”
“We are all committed to the place where we live and work,” says Stevens. “The Booz Allen staff generously give of themselves to support the needs of Colorado Springs. I think this says that they are caring, engaged, and selfless—for them, this is about the greater community good.”
story posted January 6, 2009
