Community connections: Employees who volunteer together, grow together, say local businesses

When the workday is done, many employees stay busy with fundraisers and volunteer projects -- and when they team up with coworkers, they benefit more than just the community.

Employees at MedAssets in Cape Girardeau -- and, in fact, throughout the country -- may take 40 paid hours each year to volunteer in the community. Clare Urhahn, human resources director at the Cape Girardeau office, says the goal of the company's Heart and Soul program is to give back to the community and to the world, stemming from the company's four core values: character, confidence, compassion and commitment.

"It really keeps us connected to the community," says Urhahn. "We may not always have the money to donate to a cause, but we can volunteer our time to do it. All you have to have is the commitment to make a difference."

Employees use their Heart and Soul hours for companywide projects, like disaster relief, food drives, blood drives, Habitat for Humanity, Relay for Life, Heart for Africa and the Salvation Army, and for their own pursuits, like vacation Bible school, golf tournaments and Girl or Boy Scout troops. MedAssets recently began a Pound for Pound Challenge to raise money for food banks: for every pound pledged and lost, the company will donate 42 cents to local food banks.

Urhahn uses her Heart and Soul hours for American Cancer Society events and MedAssets' annual car wash fundraiser for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

"I was totally blown away that this company will give you five days to volunteer in the community," says Urhahn, a MedAssets employee of about three years. "You don't have to use your paid time off or take a day off without pay to give back to the community. MedAssets is committed to doing it and even paying us to do it."

Southeast Missouri Hospital has been the presenting sponsor of the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life in Cape Girardeau for seven years, and also organizes four Relay teams each year. According to Judy Aslin, director of patient care services at Southeast, about 60 hospital employees joined Relay teams this year, while other employees were involved in planning, fundraising and even serving as emcees for the all-night event. Southeast's four teams represent the departments of radiation therapy, infusion services, surgery and administration. Some employees are cancer survivors themselves, and most see their current and former cancer patients at Relay for Life.

"It's about the patients. We come to show them that it's more than just a job for us," says Aslin. "We want to join in with them and also raise money to support research."

Volunteer events like Relay for Life are good for hospital employees, too, says Aslin. Those involved get to know their coworkers on a more personal level as they share a common bond: putting their all into planning, fundraising and walking to fight cancer.

On June 5, Realty Executives of Cape County held its first-ever Hope for the Homeless 5K Walk/Run to benefit the Shelter of Hope Homeless Outreach Center in Cape Girardeau. Although there was another fundraising race in Farmington, Mo., on the same day, over 80 runners showed up for the Cape Girardeau event, says marketing director Varonnica Kirn. Each person paid a registration fee in exchange for participation and a T-shirt, and about 20 Realty Executives employees volunteered by finding sponsors and participants, setting up, manning the registration table and running or walking the 5K, says Kirn.

"As Realtors we're in the business of helping people find homes, so it's a natural fit to help the homeless," says Kirn. And, like Urhahn and Aslin, Kirn felt the team-building spirit as she and her coworkers teamed up for the 5K fundraiser. This was the company's first volunteer effort, but Kirn says they hope to make the 5K an annual event and eventually add other volunteer projects.