Service Leadership

“Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.” Oprah Winfrey

The Venetian Resort Las Vegas was recognized for their community service through Sands Cares, the company’s corporate giving and Team Member engagement program, at the 2018 Governor’s Points of Light Awards in October. Sands Cares integrates the company’s philanthropic work worldwide including financial giving, Team Member volunteerism, and in-kind support while making an impact in the areas we care about most: our people, planet, and communities. Seven awards were given out by Lieutenant Governor Mark Hutchison at the annual awards ceremony including Sands Cares in Las Vegas for the Corporate and Business Volunteer Program.

More than 500 volunteers in Las Vegas joined Las Vegas Sands and social enterprises Clean the World and the American Red Cross to build 35,000 hygiene and comfort kits to support populations in need. The large community volunteer effort was in part with the company’s global annual kit build and its active approach on community preparedness.

Volunteering has always been part of eBay product manager Ruchi Sethi’s life. She freely gives her time to teach kids in underserved areas, collect donations and serve food to the homeless, and support various NGOs in her community.

At a recent community reception honoring his nearly 30 years of service to Subaru of Indiana Automotive (SIA), retiring top American executive Tom Easterday was presented with distinguished awards from the State of Indiana and the City of Lafayette.

"I'm equally honored and humbled by this recognition," said Easterday. "I've truly been blessed to have the opportunity to work with several outstanding individuals in serving Indiana, the greater Lafayette community and Subaru during my tenure at SIA."

Reporting on an organization’s management approach is now made easier, as GRI can provide reporters with tailored feedback to help them understand whether the information in their report responds to the requirements from the GRI 103: Management Approach standard.

In January 2018, the Hall Family, Hallmark Cards, Inc. and Crown Center, were awarded the J. Philip Kirk, Jr. Award from the Downtown Council of Kansas City, Mo., for downtown vision and stewardship. This award is presented annually to leaders whose vision, guidance and commitment have helped set downtown on a clear path for revitalization.

Technology has the power to unlock amazing new possibilities for our customers and the world. Through pro bono service learning, we translate the incredible potential of digital transformation from the corporate sector to our communities. Recently, I was fortunate to see this potential unfold—and watch a community transform.

Today, American Express, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Main Street America announced the winners of the 2018 Partners in Preservation: Main Streets campaign. The 11 winning historic sites will receive a total of $1.6 million in grants to fund their respective preservation projects. At the outset of the campaign, an additional $400,000 was allocated to the 20 Main Street communities that participated in the program to increase public awareness of the importance of these historic places and build grassroots support for the participating Main Street districts.

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, a person dies by suicide every seven hours in the state of Michigan and it is the 10th leading cause of death in the state.

“A lot of people think they can beat mental illness on their own, so they suffer in silence or take their own lives,” explains Jazmyne Kincaid, FCA US employee at the Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit. “I hope to be a helping hand to someone struggling with a mental illness and share with them the resources around us that can help guide them toward health.”