Page 262 - The New Gold Standard

PRINCIPLE 5: LEA VE A LASTING FOOTPRINT
the community. While this is and should remain the main rea-
son for volunteering, there is another reward that is created—
namely, that return value that the individual receives from the
process. Return value has not been discussed a great deal, but
most individuals who volunteer understand that they receive
value in return for their volunteering, including the ‘great feel-
ing’ that is received from helping others.” In addition to the pos-
itive emotions that come with volunteerism, the return value of
corporate efforts include team building, cohesion, employee
pride, and the development of specific skills such as project man-
agement abilities.

C Always Looking for the D
Opportunity to Do Good

Ritz-Carlton leadership is vigilant in looking for ways to engage
staff, guests, and even business partners in their community out-
reach efforts. Not only are employees encouraged to participate
in social causes in lieu of compensation or recognition parties
but so are the key business partners and vendors at Ritz-Carlton.
At a function designed to strengthen these relationships with
key account representatives held at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia
Island, Florida, senior leaders throughout the organization and
premier travel agents (those who refer significant business to
Ritz-Carlton hotels worldwide) assisted in packing school and
medical supplies for children in the Democratic Republic of
Congo while learning about efforts to protect an endangered
species.
The event supported children in the northeastern region of
the Congo where the endangered okapi (a zebra-striped mam-
mal in the giraffe family) is being protected as part of the Okapi
Wildlife Reserve management plan. Gilman International Con-
servation and the White Oak Conservation Center have built
schools in the Congo and support those who guard the okapi
from poachers. Steve Shurter, director of conservation at White

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