GIVE TIME, GET INSPIRED


We can often become all too comfortable with our company’s operations and ways of problem solving. Engaging with the community exposes us to people outside of our fields and educational backgrounds. As we labor over planting trees or hammering in nails on roofing shingles together, we chat with our volunteer comrades and learn about their organizations, challenges, teams, and ideas.


To help foster a creative culture in your team, it’s essential to help them discover new sources of ideas and creativity. One such source is corporate volunteering. Not only does volunteering expose your staff to new teams and ways of problem solving, it also strengthens team cohesiveness, attracts new talent, and builds community relationships.


Tis year at PGAV Destinations, we joined the Sam Fox School of Design at Washington University’s Alberti Program as a five year, $125,000 sponsor and volunteer resource. Trough this opportunity, our designers help lead workshops at Washington University for students ages eight through 15 about architecture, community, and the environment. Tis program exposes youth to creative industry leaders, art, and architecture opportunities that they may otherwise never have.


“Sharing what I know and someone understanding what I’m saying reminds me that we all just have to slow down to work together, and we all will come out ahead. Tis isn’t only about the kids; it’s about all of us learning to help each other.” – Maura Pusateri, Designer


“Alberti is an amazing forum for these young students; and through their exposure to the world of architecture and design, their imaginations have been launched into an amazing opportunity to explore, invent, and dream. It was an honor to be a part of it – if only for a few short minutes.” – Justin Stichter, Project Manager


PGAV has integrated a new volunteer program in the last couple years: PGAVia (Volunteers in Action). With this initiative, our staff gives their time throughout the community for wildlife and conservation efforts, as well as engaging in annual campaigns such as pollinator habitat protection and stopping the illegal ivory trade. 2015’s Ivory Campaign generated significant groundswell energy, beginning simply with watching documentaries and creating an online, anti-illegal ivory petition, the effort culminated with a life- sized purple elephant puppet in the St. Louis Mardi Gras parade. Te progress attracted so much attention that it influenced Missouri State Representative Jeanne Kirkton to introduce HB 2747 to the State Congress to ban the sale of illegal ivory!


Volunteering IS A REMARKABLE WAY FOR YOUR STAFF TO GENERATE NEW IDEAS AND STRENGTHEN BONDS – BOTH INTERNALLY AND WITHIN YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY.


64% of Employees Who


Currently Volunteer said that volunteering with


work colleagues strengthens their relationships.


- UnitedHealth Group’s 2013 Health and Volunteering Study


Photo: James Byard/Washington University


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