Contributing service time to silent auctions is a favorite method of Geno Benvenuti, who once donated $3,000 of design time, but lately has auctioned off carpenter time. Benvenuti’s contributions have helped schools and day cares through community fund raisers.

Another way Benvenuti helps the community is by serving on the board of a group called Housing Options, which provides housing and services to people suffering mental illnesses. These people are capable of living independently but need services and subsidized housing. His involvement consists of monthly board meetings, with one or two times a month where he will be involved in housing projects.

“We’re currently remodeling a 10-unit building that will house 18 people,” Benvenuti says. “All the funds were donated by one person, who donated a million dollars. And the state donated almost a million, also. It not only provides housing, but it also provides social services, psychiatric care and a sense of community for these people. That was a perfect fit for me, where I could lend some of my building expertise to help the community.”

Getting Employees Involved

As a business owner, it’s easy to commit to helping the community as the right thing to do. But what’s the best way to get employees on-board? Step one is to make employee involvement strictly voluntary, and expect that some employees will write checks, some will donate time and some won’t participate at all.

“If we’re doing an in-kind event we let employees know we’ll be there on Saturday, and say, ‘If you could come by, that would be great.’ We get about 30 to 40 percent participation. Another 30 to 40 percent couldn’t care less. The others are hit and miss,” Peterson says.