Corporate events going for CSR flavour

BENGALURU: While corporate social responsibility is a norm that companies have to follow, many enterprises across sectors go the extra mile to reach out to the larger community with more enthusiasm and with a greater degree of personal involvement. Many city-based companies, large and small, are now pushing the envelope to be more resourceful and socially-conscious with their festivities and celebrations.

Off-beat practices such as employees getting together to bake Christmas cakes for underprivileged children, running to raise funds for women athletes with special needs and helping the armed forces remain connected with their families, are almost becoming the norm during celebrations and festivities.

Kanchan Kalghati, a consultant with EY Global Talent Hub (EY GTH), was used to receiving a customised chocolate box delivered to her home on her birthday. Things have been different lately. “Now, we get a mail on our birthdays where we are given an option of the company sponsoring an underprivileged child's mid-day meal for six months on our behalf,“ she told ET, adding that although it is not mandatory, none of the employees tend to miss an opportunity that makes a difference.

Kunal Shah, CEO of Bengaluru-based startup Freecharge, a mobile recharge platform, believes that such outreach events help companies project their more humane side. Career milestones at Free charge were celebrated by ordering products from e-commerce sites and the gifts were donated to delivery boys. Army officers along the border were given free mobile recharge to talk to their families.

“These might not be lavish gestures, but they help share our joys with people unrelated to the company,“ Shah told ET.

Embassy Office Parks, the largest in the city, brings 37 companies with approximately 5,000 employees together for celebrations with a cause to strengthen their sense of community . These celebrations, called Energize, have seen various events, right from cake-baking for orphaned children, marathon-running for fund collection and getting employees to volunteer for fulfilling wish lists of the underprivileged. “A major facet of Energize is the exchange aspect that strives to foster platforms and communities through the virtual and real exchange of thoughts and experiences ­ bringing out the true spirit of collaboration,“ said Mike Holland, CEO, Embassy Office Parks.