There are certain things that you just can’t teach people. Of course, drive and determination are great examples of attributes that either you have—or you don’t. During this holiday season of giving, there is one characteristic that is quite relevant to me, and that’s generosity. In my mind, giving freely of yourself—sharing your time and talents with people who are in need or with those who are less fortunate—is what generosity is all about. And I’m humbled to witness the incredibly generous spirit that has developed here at Shamrock over the years.
While I have
always been active in the community and have made philanthropy a priority in
both my personal and professional life, it was when we moved Shamrock to our
new building in 2000 that Shamrock defined that element as a prominent part of
our corporate culture. Don Schenkenberger was our president
at that time; he spearheaded the development of Shamrock’s Community
Involvement Committee which provided structure for our charitable involvement
as a company.
Fast forward 13 years and the sentiment and purpose of that
program remain the same, while the impact of the effort continues to amaze and
inspire me. Our people here at Shamrock aren’t just going through the motions—I
see families and friends joining in these efforts, getting engaged, making
connections and truly changing lives. At every level, they are passionate about
their involvement.
One of the many efforts that Shamrock is actively involved
with each year is the Giving Tree project, which is a national program that
gives us the chance to make a difference in the lives of local families in
need. Our employees at Shamrock provide essential items and gifts for these
families, which we hand-deliver on Christmas Eve.
That giving-spirit transcends beyond the holiday season: Shamrock
committed to, and raised, $15,000 for Cystic Fibrosis last year; we rally a
team every year for the Susan G. Komen Foundation Race for the Cure; we raise
funds annually for Our Lady of the Wayside; and earlier this year, one of our
employees had a family member who had a major surgery—the committee quickly
came together and assembled a fabulous gift basket to show our collective support.
Big and small, Shamrock is committed to making those connections and making a
difference.
At this time of the year, many of us pause to reflect about
how very fortunate we are to have all that we do. But above and beyond, I feel
blessed to know—and to witness—that our people here at Shamrock have the
compassion and generosity in their hearts to give back to our community. Again,
that generous spirit is something that either you have—or you don’t. I’m proud
to be a part of this organization that truly has it, and that shares it, to
make our community a better place.
