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Past CAREDAYS Initiatives
CAREDAYS 2007: It's Your Life
It's Your Life is a national initiative in which employers and individuals had the opportunity to participate in a two-part program:
- Choose to live - by following specific activities to improve the quality and length of life and
- Choose to give - by collecting money and donating it to community health clinics serving uninsured patients
The It's Your Life initiative generated $18,000 that was donated to community health clinics!
CAREDAYS 2006: Spring Back to Life
Spring Back to Life™is a national initiative to provide new recreation, athletic and playground equipment to Mississippi schools seriously damaged or devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Companies, employees and individuals donated funds and hard goods to replace destroyed gym, playground and sports equipment.
Balls, bats, tumbling mats, jungle gyms, jump ropes, nets, hoops, uniforms - all of these and more were donated to 5 Mississippi schools in need. Through employee fundraisers coupled with employer matching contributions, a total of $48,800 was raised for new athletic equipment, and we replaced athletic equipment for 12,250 students across five Mississippi school districts! Read this news article about the impact and results of Spring Back to Life.
CAREDAYS 2005: Terrific Tales and Teachers Know Best
Based on the recommendations of librarians and education experts, Center for Companies That Care compiled the Terrific Tales book list, an educationally diverse selection of books for kindergarten through 8th grade. Participating companies collected and distributed classroom libraries of books to local less-advantaged schools.
With the Teachers Know Best initiative, participating companies made donations to fund teachers' proposals to help fill a range of classroom needs (see www.donorschoose.org). For example, common classrooms gaps include art supplies, costumes and props, calculators and other technology, measurement tools to help children learn about the metric system, books and books-on-tape...many communities have significant needs.
While Center for Companies That Care completed the Teachers Know Best initiative in 2005, organizations may still donate to Teachers Know Best. Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for details.
Past CAREDAYS Participants
Every year, individuals across the country join together to implement CAREDAYS initiatives at their companies. This list contains the names of organizations that have participated in past CAREDAYS initiatives.
AAA Mid-Atlantic
Baxter Credit Union
Baxter Healthcare
The Care of Trees
CBIZ
CHAN Healthcare Auditors
ChapterHouse, LLC
The Conservation Fund
Convergint Technologies
Curcio Webb
Delnor Health System
Divine Signs
EGL - Houston
Enterprise Fleet Management
Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp.
Grand View Hospital
Great Lakes Cheese
HDR - Kansas City
Human Capital Trust
Interior Investments
Jeff Krol and Associates
Kennedy's Creative Awards
KPMG LLP
Lake Forest Graduate School of Management
Management Recruiters
McKinley, Inc.
Ohio Savings
Opto Technology, Inc.
PJM Interconnection
Rauland-Borg Corporation
River Lee International
Sage Products
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
State Farm Insurance
TAP Pharmaceutical Products
The Supply Room Companies
Triangle Printers
Unilever - Connecticut
University Health System Consortium
Virginia Commonwealth University Health System
WellStar
Wheels, Inc.
FAQ's
Who is eligible to participate in CAREDAYS 2013: Terrific Tales?
All employers are encouraged to participate in the national CAREDAYS initiative. There are no specific eligibility requirements. Participating employers represent the diversity of organizations that care - large corporations, small businesses, service firms, publicly-held and privately-owned organizations, government entities, health care organizations, not-for-profits, academic institutions, and others.
Why should my company participate in Terrific Tales?
Three great reasons:
1. To involve everyone: This is an initiative in which every part of your company can participate. It doesn't necessarily need to be coordinated by the corporate office. If your company has multiple branches or office locations, each of them can identify a local school to partner with.
2. To encourage literacy: Investing in literacy is important. When you help students develop their ability to read effectively, you equip them with the skills they need to succeed and excel as they enter high school, college, and the work world.
3. To see your impact: Terrific Tales provides a unique opportunity to bring books directly to students. Employees who work hard to make Terrific Tales a success at their company enjoy seeing the fruits of their community service. We encourage companies to plan a celebration for the school to celebrate the donation and get everyone talking about literacy education in schools today.
Are there other CAREDAYS celebration activities?
In addition to participating in the annual CAREDAYS initiative, companies may celebrate by organizing activities and events that integrate the 10 Characteristics of Socially Responsible Employers more fully into their work environment. Each organization may plan customized activities that make the initiative meaningful to them and responsive to their development or recognition needs.
How much does CAREDAYS cost?
The only costs associated with celebrating CAREDAYS are the costs an organization might incur to implement the activities it plans.
How do we register our plans for CAREDAYS?
Register here
How much does building a library usually cost?
Center for Companies That Care has a partnership with Scholastic Books, which allows us to purchase new books at a reduced price. Below is an estimation of the price of an average book, as well as the estimated cost of an entire library.
- $7/paperback book
- $15/hardcover book
- $1000/classroom library (125 books)
Please note that 15% of each donation is allocated to cover Center for Companies That Care's costs for identifying schools as well as purchasing, receiving, and distributing the books.
Will Center for Companies that Care provide any support?
Yes. The Center for Companies that Care is prepared to provide the Terrific Tales book list, assist companies in locating schools in need of libraries, and offer suggestions for planning and implementation of the Terrific Tales initiative. If you need any assistance regarding Terrific Tales contact Center for Companies That Care at 312-661-1010 or send an email to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
Where are the schools?
The schools are wherever you are. If you would like to lend a hand to a school in your area, Center for Companies that Care will help you locate a school that could benefit from your help.
If a school has multiple branches can we help them in all their locations?
Yes! Feel free to help as many schools as you can.
When I contact the school, what should I say?
When contacting the schools in your area you should introduce yourself, your company, and the Terrific Tales initiative. Explain Terrific Tales, and ask the school if they would value participating. If they are interested, it is important to find out if who you should use within the school as your contact. If someone at the school is responsible for the maintenance of classroom libraries, they would be a great go-to person as your company carries out its Terrific Tales initiative. They would be able to provide you with the answers to questions your company might have, for example:
- Which grade levels or classrooms need books?
- What is the average reading level of the kids who will be receiving the libraries?
- Would the administration be comfortable allowing your company to host an event at the school around the Terrific Tales initiative?
- Is there a time during the academic year the school would prefer to accept your donation?
- Would the school like to be involved in the selection of the books?
- What language should the books be in?
Remember, the administrators at Title 1 schools are especially busy. You should not take a lack of responsiveness as a lack of interest. In the past participants have found that establishing initial contact with the schools is the hardest part, so allow yourself some time to make those connections.
Who delivers the books?
Your company may send the books directly to the school, ask the school to pick up the books, or deliver them personally. In the past, participants have found it incredibly rewarding to personally deliver the books. If your company chooses to personally deliver the books, you may decide to include a celebration for the students. In the past companies have brought in storytellers to provide entertainment, held small assemblies, or thrown a party for students, which included a focus on literacy.
How many classroom libraries has Terrific Tales provided?
In 2008 companies provided 45 libraries for deserving schools. With your help Terrific Tales can reach its three-year goal to provide 1,000 classroom libraries of high quality books to less-advantaged schools nationwide!
Can I speak with a company who has participated in the past?
Yes. Contact Center for Companies That Care, and we will connect you with a past Terrific Tales participant who will try to answer any questions you might have.
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