The third panel today is about business philanthropy or "doing good with profit." The students who introduced the panel spoke about corporate partnerships and giving programs such as the Red Campaign and Play Pumps. These are for-profit companies who give money to do good, but aren't charities.
Jim Laughlin, Director of Communications, Life is good, Inc. is telling the story about the Life is good's corporate giving. They raised $680,000 for children and $207,000 for the united way following 9/11. Following 9/11 Life is good asked themselves if they could maintain the "Life is Good" mantra when for so many life wasn't good.
Life is good came to the conclusion that it's good to give.
Second speakers--Lincoln Fowler ’89, Alterra Coffee Roasters and Ward Fowler ’86, Partners, Alterra Coffee
Corporate giving actually helps the bottom line. the company does not engage in traditional advertising. So community building activities actually help grow their company.
Alterra coffee, a Wisconsin company and the non-profit America's Second Harvest teamed up to make a special brand of coffee that benefits the non-profit. Alterra gets to sell coffee to the Wisconsin store, the store makes money and give 50 cents to America's Second Harvest and America's Second Harvest has a steady income to provide to the less fortunate.
The Alterra store in Milwaukee is a certified green building and 100% of their power is wind power. They say they aren't philanthropists, just businessmen who know that doing good means more for their bottom line.
Third Speaker-
Elizabeth Glenshaw
Calvert Foundation
Director, CI Marketing and Industry Development
Elizabeth's company Calvert Foundation is involved in Community Investment. Calvert Foundation supports community development organizations, across the country and around the world and connects lenders to community groups, social enterprises, microfinanace, alternative media. In eleven years the global investment portfolio has recycled more than $400 million, created 199,200 jobs in the US and abroad and built 8,800 affordable jobs.
