Fostering Social Responsibility: Friends of ASH Expands Corporate Donations Program to Support Worthy Causes

What Is Corporate Social Responsibility and Its Importance?

Corporate social responsibility is a business model that shows a company's impact on society and its local community. It's a way for businesses to improve society locally, nationwide, or worldwide. Corporate donations and employees volunteering at a non-profit are examples of CSR. 

CSR does more than give money to charitable organizations to support a worthy cause. Corporate philanthropy aims to produce a long-lasting, positive impact on society. Businesses of all sizes in every industry can have a CSR program to ensure they fulfill their responsibility to society. 

Below are the main types of CSR that businesses often participate in:

• Philanthropic Corporate Responsibility: A company's general objectives for improving the whole of society through corporate donations is philanthropic corporate responsibility. 
• Environmental Social Responsibility: Sustainable practices like reducing one's carbon footprint and limiting the use of disposable plastics are environmental responsibilities.
• Corporate Volunteerism: Companies may encourage their workers to volunteer with non-profits to donate time to worthy causes instead of money. 
• Ethical Social Responsibility: Human rights or ethical responsibilities involve a company's commitment to maintain human rights principles like equal pay and fair treatment for all workers and customers respectively. 
• Economic Social Responsibility: This type of social responsibility involves making smart corporate financial decisions according to a willingness to do good. 

Key Benefits of Business Philanthropy

Businesses engage in corporate giving programs for various reasons, including the following. 

Helping the Community

Improving the community is one of the main reasons corporations choose to give to local charities and non-profits. Though CSR on a national scale still benefits society, limiting business donations and volunteering to local causes is more likely to garner employee and community engagement.

Local support also helps businesses connect with prospective customers on a different level. This engagement could create more opportunities for companies to reach their target audiences and develop a loyal clientele. 

Positive Brand Reputation

When businesses regularly make charitable donations, they have an excellent chance of fostering a positive brand reputation. Companies that care about society and worthy causes stand out in the public eye in a good way. 

Corporate donations do more than fund charitable causes. Being transparent about the causes a business supports and donates to shows the public that a business is passionate and genuine about its social responsibilities. It showcases their values, making it easier for the public and their target audiences to connect to and support businesses that align with the causes they care about. 

Improved Team Morale

Participating in CSRs also benefits employees. Doing good things helps you feel good. When workers feel positive about their contributions to a worthy cause by donating money, time, or skills, the team morale will improve as well. 

Good moods and productivity at work go hand-in-hand. According to a study from the University of Warwick, employee happiness improves productivity by about 12%. 

Business philanthropy can certainly help a business look good to the public. However, philanthropic business models also contribute to positive corporate cultures where employees feel good about being part of a team that cares about society. Happy employees positively impact a business's bottom line, so team morale improvement is a CSR benefit that offers additional advantages to the company as a whole. 

Showing Support Through Friends of ASH

Friends of Austin State Hospital formally ASH Volunteer Service Council have a decades-long history of charitable work involving the staff and patients at Austin State Hospital. The aim of the program is to improve the quality of life of these individuals residing here with mental health conditions while promoting mental health awareness. 

At Friends of ASH, we advocate for patients through community outreach, mental health education, fun activities for patients, fundraising to support Austin State Hospital patients and staff, and more.

Corporate donations and volunteering help make our support and community outreach initiatives possible. Financial contributions to our organization go toward patient resources, therapeutic programs, and facility improvements. Friends of ASH also has volunteer programs where businesses and employees can donate their time or skills as a one-time or ongoing event to help those in the community dealing with mental health challenges. 

An example of what Friends of ASH does is our upcoming Insights Art Show. On February 2, 2024, the Visions of ASH art program will showcase the work of patients to promote mental health awareness and healing through creativity. 

You could support this worthy cause by becoming a sponsor or attending the event, where art sales will raise funds for mental health awareness. The art show is from 4-7 pm and will include:

• Relevant discussions about mental health
• Diverse artwork
• Music
• Delicious foods
• Cocktails

Become a Sponsor Today

Contributing to business donations is a great way to keep your business on the pulse of the local community. From team morale boosts to cultivating a positive brand image, corporate giving programs have much to offer beyond the charity they contribute to. Through various company charitable contributions, organizations can improve society in countless ways.

Friends of Austin State Hospital is always looking for sponsors to help improve the quality of life of the patients and staff at the hospital. We continue to bring awareness to mental health issues through community events and business donations after decades of helping improve the lives of adults and children who get mental health treatment.

Help increase the community reach of Friends of ASH by becoming a corporate sponsor for our upcoming Insights Art Show for mental health awareness or by donating to the cause. Call (512) 419-2333 for more information about corporate donations from Friends of ASH.