Elevating Corporate Social Responsibility Through Charitable Initiatives
Written by: Patrick Palmer, CEO, Cornerstone Defense
In the busy and dynamic landscape of any business or industry, the concept of giving back can sometimes take a back seat. Yet, for small businesses across many industries, there lies a profound opportunity to extend their impact beyond mere transactions. Beyond profit margins and competitive edges, lies a realm where businesses can serve as agents of positive change. Endeavors in charitable contributions and community engagement not only foster goodwill, but also play a pivotal role in building stronger, more resilient communities. Moreover, such initiatives cultivate a corporate ethos grounded in empathy and responsibility, bringing a workforce closer together as a part of something meaningful.
At Cornerstone Defense, our philosophy is to find charitable donation and philanthropy opportunities by inquiring about our employees’ preferred charities. Through our program, Cornerstone Gives Back, we have donated to charities ranging from cancer research (multiple charities), youth sports, stream clean ups, religious based charities, coastal conservation, academic fraternal organizations, and children’s charities. However, our sweet spot is, and has always been, supporting veterans and wounded veterans organizations. For the past 5 years, we have been honored to work with Hero Homes, for example, a local organization that contributes 100% of all donations (no overhead) to build homes for wounded veterans. Hero Homes is currently building their 6th house in 8 years.
This year we have teamed with another charity that supports our fallen veterans. The charity is called the 1162 Foundation and is named after the day President Kennedy commissioned the Navy Seals. 1162 Foundation was formed and is run by Commander Mike Hayes (Ret). Hayes is a former Navy Seal that fought with valor and distinction in multiple conflicts around the world. Hayes is an established leader who off the battlefield has lead meetings in the White House Situation Room, negotiated international arms treaties, and developed high impact corporate strategies. His leadership philosophy is always to strive to be better, to contribute more, and put others first.
Commander Hayes is also a best-selling author who penned the book “Never Enough”. As quoted from his website, in “Never Enough”, Hayes “recounts dramatic stories and offers battle and boardroom tested advice that will motivate leaders to do work of value, live a life of purpose, and stretch themselves to reach their highest potential.”
100% of the proceeds of Never Enough go to Gold Star Families. A Gold Star Family is the immediate family member(s) of a fallen soldier who died while serving in a time of conflict. If you would like to learn more about Goldstar Families, please use this link: https://www.hopeforthewarriors.org. I highly recommend reading Commander Hayes’ book. It is an impactful and inspirational look at strategic leadership and striving to be the best you can be.
As stated previously, our Cornerstone Gives Back Committee is always open to new opportunities and partnerships to make a difference in our communities, whether through volunteerism, charitable donations, or other means. If you are interested in such a partnership with Cornerstone Defense, we would love to hear from you and see if we can support your cause. Reach out today by dropping us a comment or sending a direct message on social media or by sending us an email at info@csdef.com. We hope to hear from you!