Uniting to uplift communities: Celebrating employee volunteers

A Conversation with Welcome.US's Vicky Bhogal

April marks a special occasion that resonates with altruism and community spirit—National Employee Volunteer Month. Businesses and organizations nationwide take the time to reflect on the power of collective action and the profound impact that dedicated volunteers can have on shaping a brighter tomorrow.

What excites you about National Employee Volunteer Month when considering the work of our CEO Council?

April is a wonderful time to highlight and celebrate the greatest parts about welcoming—it's a time when the spirit of volunteerism takes center stage, resonating with the core values of corporate social responsibility (CSR). It’s also a season of change. National Employee Volunteer Month illuminates the profound intersection between corporate citizenship and community engagement. One of the best ways I’m seeing this come to life is through our Welcome.US CEO Council members and their approaches to employee engagement within their organizations. Every member is different, serving different customers and communities, so their approaches offer us a window to learn a bit more about how they can engage their employees and ultimately how we can be a thought leader and partner with them.

Can you share an example of a partner that has moved the needle with their volunteer work?

The concept of corporate social responsibility has evolved beyond philanthropy, with a growing emphasis on employee volunteerism. National Employee Volunteer Month serves as a reminder of the vital role that employees play in giving back to society and fostering positive change. And at Welcome.US, we see it as a prime opportunity to engage in the act of welcoming.

Americans—and corporate citizens— show us that they see welcoming as a way of being in service to their communities. When Welcome.US asked Americans to welcome and sponsor newcomers, they overwhelmingly said yes, first for Afghans, then to Ukrainians and later for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans. And now for refugees from around the world. We know that Americans are willing to step up and sponsor newcomers in need of refuge, and for corporate partners there are so many ways to help, whether it’s through our Engage to Change program with Lions International and a recent pilot with Amazon, or a career readiness workshop like we hosted at Goldman Sachs. These activities all matter to the greater movement around welcoming: enabling positive outcomes and helping newcomers secure jobs.

Why is volunteerism so important for corporate partners?

Generally speaking, the essence of volunteerism lies not just in the act of giving, but also in the bonds it forges within communities directly. Whether it's cleaning up local parks, mentoring underprivileged youth, or participating in food or clothing drives, volunteer initiatives bring people together with a common purpose—to make a difference in their community. And the work of Welcome.US directly impacts and positively changes people’s lives. These experiences cultivate a sense of belonging and camaraderie among employees and instill pride in their organization's commitment to social good. It serves several benefits, including community impact, employee engagement, brand reputation, and more.

Welcome.US and the Welcome.US CEO Council are proud partners in building a new architecture for scaled legal pathways, to ensure newcomers and communities are supported with the resources, services, and opportunities they need to thrive together.

How corporate volunteerism impacts its employees and communities

How do volunteer opportunities benefit employees? And what have you heard from Welcome.US CEO Council members about why they choose to partner with Welcome.US on these opportunities?

The benefits of employee volunteerism extend far beyond the communities served. Research has consistently shown that companies with robust volunteer programs experience higher levels of employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention. By providing opportunities for staff to contribute their time and skills to meaningful causes, employers not only enhance their corporate reputation but also nurture a more motivated and fulfilled workforce.

In light of the ongoing global challenges, the importance of volunteerism has never been more apparent. From supporting frontline workers to advocating for environmental sustainability, employees have a pivotal role to play in addressing societal issues. National Employee Volunteer Month offers a platform for organizations to amplify their impact and inspire a culture of giving that transcends borders and industries.

Welcome.US CEO Council members are passionate about their employee engagement programs, and it’s a leading strategic driver in why they partner with Welcome.US to help transform the resettlement system at scale. We can connect them to frontline community organizations to donate essential goods for newcomers, host a film screening and accompanying panel on a relevant topic related to the current crisis, or partner on local outreach.

Can you tell us about a corporate partner and a localized program that served a unique need in welcoming?

I have a perfect example of an employee-led effort from Bank of America out of Charlotte, N.C.. Bank of America has been an incredible partner on the Welcome.US CEO Council, willing to jump in and brainstorm ways Welcome.US can support their CSR programs. KJ Ukpai, a Senior Business Control Specialist from Bank of America, led a community initiative with Save Our Allies (SOA) to hold a winter coat drive from December through February. Thanks to an introduction through Welcome.US, the team collected coats from their local offices as well as local high schools, colleges, and other community centers, where KJ collected all the coats and kept them in his garage. He has been packaging them and dropping them off personally, and he’s committed to continuing this partnership with SOA. KJ is an immigrant from Nigeria and is very connected to the work of welcoming, and his story is one of a newcomer paying it forward with welcoming in his own community. It’s inspiring, true to who he is, and true to his role as a Bank of America employee.

Employee volunteering provides so much potential for community impact. Are there any other Welcome.US partners to highlight?

Absolutely. One that comes to mind is T-Mobile and their innovative, brand-driven Magenta Giving Month. They’re truly embracing how to empower and mobilize employees to give back to the communities where they live and work, and the causes they are most passionate about.

T-Mobile was among the first corporate partners that sprung to action when Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai invited Mike Sievert to join the Welcome.US CEO Council. A belief we share: one of the most critical pieces of resettlement is being connected—to loved ones, job opportunities, support systems, and so much more—so our challenge is being able to articulate this and bring it to life alongside T-Mobile.

T-Mobile partnered with Welcome.US on three newcomer hiring fairs and tech activations in high impact cities, including Sacramento, San Diego, and their hometown, Seattle. Recently, T-Mobile also hosted Welcome.US as a feature organization during their Magenta Giving Month, where myself and a colleague were able to talk with employees about our phone activation program and other ways they can get involved in our work.

We had the opportunity to hear inspiring stories from employees who were welcomed into their own communities after immigrating to the United States. We also connected with teams and employee resource groups at T-Mobile that are seeking ways to educate and engage larger groups in acts of welcome and look forward to bringing even more T-Mobile employees into this important work throughout 2024. To round out their Giving Month, T-Mobile will make a donation to Welcome.US for every employee who watches a short film about our work.

Speaking of the film, earlier you mentioned a film screening. How is that part of employee engagement?

The power of a documentary and the power of a story can bring us all together. When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, millions of displaced Ukrainians were fleeing crisis and searching for safety. One Good Reason, a 25-minute documentary film, chronicles the raw and vulnerable journey of the Hnatiuk family as they leave Lviv, Ukraine, and begin a new life with American sponsors in Unity, Wisc.

In February, Welcome.US CEO Council partner Pfizer hosted a screening of the documentary at Pfizer’s New York City headquarter. Following the screening, Welcome.US CEO Nazanin Ash joined Payal Sahni-Becher, Pfizer’s Chief People Experience Officer and Executive Vice President, for a panel discussion moderated by Ramcess Jean-Louis, Pfizer’s Global Chief DEI Officer. It was a day of hope, meaningful connections, and championing solutions to rethink the modern resettlement system—and the role the private sector can play in the process.

But it was more than simply sharing a powerful film and educational panel. We also hosted a discussion with Memphis-based Ukrainian Pfizer employees and beneficiaries who were sponsored by another Pfizer employee, Sheila Rice. Sheila used the Welcome Connect platform to connect and start her sponsorship journey. It was the most beautiful and inspiring example of welcoming at work—finding connection and community in both a new company and a country. Seeing these inspiring stories in real life left a lasting impact on the Pfizer community in attendance.

At its heart, employee volunteerism is about more than fulfilling corporate obligations; it's about empowering individuals to become agents of change within their communities. Whether through skills-based volunteering, team-based projects, or pro bono work, employees have the opportunity to leverage their talents and expertise for the greater good. In doing so, they not only address pressing societal needs but also develop invaluable leadership skills, empathy, and a deeper sense of purpose. Welcome.US is thankful for the time and talents of our Welcome.US CEO council members and employee volunteers! Whether you're an employee looking to make a difference or an employer seeking to enhance your CSR strategy, there's never been a better time to get involved. Together, let's harness the transformative power of employee volunteerism to create lasting impact and ignite positive change in our communities and beyond.

Email us today at [email protected] to find out more about how you can get involved in welcoming!