•CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY•
By Paul TrundleThursday 20th September 2012 At AOL One of our values is that we are in the business of helping people. Here in Dublin, we have a dedicated CSR committee that organise events and raise funds for various charities and organisations. Here is an overview of some of the biggest fundraisers AOLers have participated in:Monster Help Day 2012
Since May 2010, the month of our 25th birthday, AOL offices globally come together for a single day to volunteer their time to the local community. This year nearly 3,000 AOL employees from 21 offices supported 38 charities totalling more than 24,000 man-hours. For Monster Help Day 2012, Dublin employees chose one of three activities: working at Peamount Hospital or Camphill Dunshane, or building websites for charities. Here's what they had to say
"Thank you for your compassion for DWI, it is more than words can express. You energised me and the DWI organisation as a whole. Now I am proud to invite friends and other service providers to our Website. Please convey my sincere gratitude to the management of Business in Community, Volunteering Ireland and AOL. The DWI delegates had a fantastic experience with AOL, thanks very much. Very warm regards to everyone"
Juliet Amamure
CEO, DWI
"I would like to express the deep gratitude and appreciation of our staff and especially our clients, for all the hard work and effort you and your colleagues put into your Monster Dat volunteering project here last week. We're very grateful that you chose Peamount Healthcare and we're delighted with the outcome. Thanks to your efforts our clients have newly painted bedrooms and living rooms to enjoy."
Fran Brennan
Friends of Peamount
"I would like to thank AOL for their time and effort on AOL's Monster Day May 18th. The difference that this group of people made in a few short hours is amazing."
Jeremy Hart
Camphill
Charity Raffle
Every few months, AOL Ireland hosts a raffle, with all proceeds donated to a charity chosen by the whole team. Our two biggest raffles this year were in aid St. Patrick's University Hospital and the Children's Medical & Research Foundation at Our Lady's Children's Hospital.
"On behalf of the Children's Medical & Research Foundation at Our Lady's Childrens Hospital, Crumlin, I would like to thank you for your generous donation of the proceeds of your recent raffle. We are delighted to hear that you chose us as your charity. It is a fantastic amount so a big well done to everyone involved. All money raised will go towards the refurbishment of our cardiac unit, St. Theresa's ward. This work could not be done without the help of people like you! So thank you again, we are truly grateful"
Rachel McGibney
Corporate Fundraising Executive, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin
AOL does Dragon's Den
In June 2012, AOL Ireland hosted a very special event in partnership with Junior Achievement based on the Dragon's Den TV show. Four groups of fifth class students from the nearby Mater Dei Convent N.S. (on Basin Lane just off James Street) came to visit us in the office in HSQ.
Each group pitched a new product idea, which they presented to our panel of AOL Dragons. To help them prepare for the pitch, they were advised by a team of AOL mentors. The ideas varied widely with Bagsage (a bag that massages your shoulders as you walk), Glowlaces (glow in the dark shoelaces), MP3 earrings and a super homework desk aimed at the Russian market all presented to the Dragons. Each team won a prize for their effort with the winner walking away with a bagful of AOL goodies. The event was thoroughly enjoyed by all who took part.
Other on-going CRS Activities
Every year, AOLers in Dublin leave gifts for children under the Christmas tree, which are collected by the ISPCC for distribution.
AOL's Mo Bros and Mo Sistas took part in Movember for the third year running raising funds for the Irish Cancer Society.
And the one off Events -
AOL Dublin employees hold an internal raffle in September 2012 raising funds in aid of Crumlins Childrens Hospital.
In June 2012, AOLers raised funds for the Irish Cancer Society by taking part in the Wicklow 100 cycle challenge.
In September 2011, employees ran the Dublin Half Marathon to raise funds for the Irish Kidney Association. The company made a matching donation to GOAL for famine relief in Somalia.
As part of the 30-Day Service Challenge to mark The Huffington Post acquisition, employees undertook a sponsored walk in April 2011 to raise funds for The Jack & Jill Children's Foundation.
In September 2010, the Dublin teams donated generously to DRIP, an Irish charity working in one of the regions worst affected by the floods in Pakistan. AOLers contributed at a fundraising lunch and directly from payroll, with all donations matched by the company.
Responding to GOAL's Haiti Earthquake appeal in January 2010, AOLers donated directly from payroll, with donations matched by the company.
Employees have also volunteered their time and expertise to help those in many local community organisations, including An Cosán, Fettercairn Youth Horse Project, Killinarden Family Resource Centre and Cheeverstown House (CHESS), as well as teaching Junior Achievement programmes in local national and secondary schools.
AOL was shortlisted in the Good Neighbour Community category in the Chambers Ireland 2008 President's Awards for Corporate Social Responsibility. In the same year the business won the overall Youth award at the South Dublin Chamber Business in the Community Awards for the work with the Fettercairn Youth Horse Project.
