Being socially responsible is not only good for business, but it is also good for your health.
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Are you a ray of sunshine in your community? Does your personal or corporate brand give a sparkling image?
Unfortunately, many brands believe that a great product or service is enough to warrant that reputation in their community. A great product or service is one factor that builds your reputation, but it is not the only factor.
A recent LIM College study found that 63% of millennials would stick with a brand if they were engaged in philanthropic causes that reflect their beliefs or values.
Being socially responsible is not only good for business, but it is also good for your health.
In fact, people who gave their time to assist community efforts had less depression than people who did not take part in such activities, according a 2006 study published in the International Journal of Psychophysiology.
Furthermore, a 2012 study in the Health Psychology journal discovered that people who volunteered on a fairly regular basis lived longer, but only if their intentions were truly altruistic.
So, we can see from the studies that being a ray of sunshine has benefits on many levels. You do not need to be a social entrepreneur or be involved in a non-profit organization to make a difference in your community.
Everyday, corporations and individuals are contributing their time, money, and resources to make a difference.
If you are unsure about how to start becoming that ray of sunshine in your community, I have exemplified two businesses and a non-profit organization as case examples.
Rosenthal & Levy are a Florida law firm who decided to take the local approach. They have contributed to many causes, including investing in the athletic endeavors of Palm Beach Lakes High School and helping annual fundraising for the non-profit organization, LEAF.
You can do the same, whether you want to contribute as a business or individual. Take a moment to think about ways that you can serve your community.
Does your city have a high poverty rate? If so, then you can volunteer at a food bank. Alternatively, if your business is a grocery store or restaurant, you may find forming a partnership with a food bank to be a great way to give back.
I recommend considering Volunteer Match. They offer some great opportunities in your city or a city near you.
Morgan James Publishing is an independent book publisher that regularly appears in Publisher’s Weekly as one of America’s fastest growing publishers. As a Morgan James author, I am happy to know that a percentage of my book’s profits are donated to Habitat for Humanity.
Morgan James and other corporations think strategically by leveraging partnerships to reach people in need on a national level. Although, if you are an individual, you may be wondering how you can volunteer on a national level.
There are several organizations that offer national volunteering opportunities like AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and United We Serve.
University of The People is the world’s first non-profit, tuition-free, online and accredited university. With the evolving growth of student loan debt, this university has become a miracle for many students. The initial application fee and exam processing fees are the only required costs for students.
While $2,000 for an associate’s degree and $4,000 for a bachelor’s degree is an amazing deal, they provide scholarships to students who cannot afford the exam processing fees. They offer 14 scholarships, including their own university sponsored scholarship.
I had the pleasure to talk to Shai Reshef (University of The People’s Founder & President) on a recent interview.
You can take the same approach with your business or social enterprise to make a global impact. If you are just an individual that desires to change the world, Peace Corps is one among many organizations that allow you to contribute to social causes abroad.
Whether you want to be a ray of sunshine locally, nationally, or globally, it is best to concentrate your efforts on the most overwhelming problems to make the biggest impact.
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Photo credit: Getty Images