Community Philanthropy Awards: Burr Pilger Mayer, North Bay

Community Philanthropy Awards

March 30, 2016

11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

Hyatt Vineyard Creek Hotel & Spa, 170 Railroad St., Santa Rosa

Event:

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Stories:

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“A core value of Burr Pilger Mayer is to actively support local communities by having offices where our clients and employees are located,” said Carol O’Hara, North Bay managing partner. “This allows our employees to have a more flexible work–life schedule and to truly invest in the community.”

Employee participation in community organizations is actively encouraged. BPM staffers can volunteer in any organization they feel passionate about and the company supports their commitment with time off to volunteer during work and with financial contributions.

“We don’t just write checks to get our name on events,” O’Hara said. “We require a true employee commitment of head, heart and hands.”

Nearly all the company’s 45 North Bay employees are involved in local organizations. That includes Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce and its regional Young Professionals Network, Sonoma State University Wine Business Institute, Active 20-30 Club Redwood Empire chapter No. 1029, Redwood Empire Food Bank, Tomorrow’s Leaders Today, the California Wine Museum, Chop’s Teen Club, Catholic Charities Santa Rosa, North Bay Leadership Council, Santa Rosa Symphony, West Santa Rosa Rotary Club, Sonoma County Alliance and Women for WineSense.

Some employees also volunteer with Sonoma County Justice Center; Redwood Empire Planning Council; Kid Street Learning Center, to mentor and read with students; Harvest Christian School; Cardinal Newman High School; and Cloverdale Seventh-day Adventist School.

“Every year our offices close for a day so that all of our 400 employees can join together in teams for the community service event known as BPM Day,” said Beth Baldwin, director of human resources. “Each office chooses two or three local nonprofits where employees deliver a day of volunteer service.”

On BPM Days, employees have volunteered with Becoming Independent, Hanna Boys Center, Canine Companions, Sunrise Horse Rescue, Catholic Charities, Crossing the Jordan and the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Projects encompass a broad selection of philanthropic activity from restoring local wildlife habitat, to building sets for a community theater, as well as to painting and cleaning a homeless shelter.

Through the years, the firm has contributed more than 100,000 hours of volunteer labor to 75-plus nonprofits.

In addition, every BPM office has adopted a local school to support. Each month, a team of “BPMers” and SSU accounting students volunteer to pack food at Redwood Empire Food Bank.

“Investing in the community is not a one-time, check-the-box activity for BPM,” Baldwin said. “It is a living, breathing part of our everyday life, a part of our culture and what makes us who we are as people and professionals. For us, BPM also stands for ‘because people matter.’”

Community Philanthropy Awards

March 30, 2016

11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

Hyatt Vineyard Creek Hotel & Spa, 170 Railroad St., Santa Rosa

Event:

nbbj.news/phil16

Stories:

nbbj.news/philanthropy16

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