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I work as the Controller for "Brand New School," an animation/motion graphics company based in Los Angeles & New York.
A couple of years ago, I decided I wanted to leave the company because I wasn't feeling fulfilled.
My boss, Jonathan Notaro, asked if more money would keep me. We had been down this road before and what I really wanted was for my daily life to have some impact on the world other than just selling commercials (in it's simplest definition, Brand New School produces commercials). Although a raise never hurts, I needed something even more important; to do something more meaningful.
We came up with an idea that I could take every other Friday off as long as my work was done so I could do volunteer work in the community. I was excited to say the least!
Suffice it to say, it never happened -- work was too overwhelming and I could barely leave the office for lunch, let alone for a whole day. Then last year I decided it was definitely time to move on. My boss flew in from NY and we had a long talk -- again, what would make me happy?
Before I could say a word, Jonathan said; "So, Carmen, how about if you still attempt to do volunteer work every other Friday and for every Friday you don't get to go because there's too much to do, Brand New School will make a contribution of $500 to the charity of your choice?
Well, not only have I been doing volunteer work on a pretty regular basis with different charities, one of them being Challenger's Boys and Girls Club (http://www.cbgcla.org/) here in South Central Los Angeles, we've also contributed a decent amount of money to various other charities.
As a company we've also become "green." Jonathan initiated procedures company-wide to change our daily habits so that we could work towards being environmentally responsible.
Without a doubt, this has made me enjoy my job a lot more – not because much has changed in my daily functions – I still have boring days, busy days and bad long days along with real good days, but because I know I'm valued as an employee and as an individual person. My boss and company have a very committed and loyal employee. And no matter how you look at it, it's a win-win situation. Simply, we're just better than we used to be. It's an excellent business model I encourage others to follow. It has certainly changed me and my company for the better.
Habitat for Humanity http://www.habitat.org/
The Conservation Fund "GO ZERO" http://www.conservationfund.org/
Camp Max Straus http://www.campmaxstraus.org/
Surfrider Foundation http://www.surfrider.org/
Surfers Healing http://www.surfershealing.org/
Challenger's Boys & Girls Club http://www.cbgcla.org/
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