By Kate McGlynn, Associate Director of Administration and Special Projects, University of Pittsburgh Division of Philanthropic and Alumni Engagement

With a career in community and corporate program administration spanning more than a decade, I have seen firsthand the importance of forming strong relationships in the workplace. Going to work every day, we all aspire to an environment that is filled with support, camaraderie and encouragement. It has always been a priority of mine to help build such an atmosphere. So, as someone who has also actively been involved with volunteerism, when I discovered the opportunity to participate in United Way’s Workplace Giving Campaign, I was thrilled to marry two of my life’s passions.

United Way’s Workplace Giving Campaign provides employees the opportunity to make a difference in three ways: participate in impactful volunteer activities, make a matching gift and help develop long-term solutions for those in need. Combining team-building fun and inspiration-sparking experiences, participation enriches the lives of the employees and unites them around a common cause. Unified, a team grows together as they work toward addressing some of the area’s greatest challenges.

Based on my experience at the University of Pittsburgh, here are the four greatest ways a United Way Workplace Giving Campaign has benefited the University and its employees:

• Promotes teamwork and encourages networking – Effective Workplace Giving Campaigns enhance personal relationships between employees, increase teamwork and generate positive feelings about the company. Participating in meaningful activities like assembling literacy kits for young readers or creating care packages for struggling women gives employees the chance to step away from their desks, help others and bond with their peers.
• Boosts company morale and pride – Workplace Giving Campaigns develop a caring company culture among employees. Employees that give back at work feel a sense of purpose, positive morale and enhanced general well-being. And when employees see their leaders dedicating time and effort to supporting the community, they are even more inspired to do the same.
• Helps employees develop new skills – There are always new skills to gain – leadership, problem-solving, communication­­­_­ – the list is endless. In addition to developing skills like project coordination and time management, Workplace Giving Campaign activities also give employees the chance to showcase talents they do not ordinarily get to use in the workplace – introducing their co-workers to another side of their personality.
• Connects to other volunteer opportunities – Another great perk of a Workplace Giving Campaign is how it connects participants to other ways they can serve the community. Through inspiring visits from United Way’s team and participating in Workplace Giving Campaign activities, employees’ eyes are opened not only to the issues happening right in their neighborhoods, but to the ways they can help remediate these challenges by volunteering.

All employees have unique takeaways from the Workplace Giving Campaign experience – some thrive off the relationship-building, whereas others love finding new ways of giving back to the community. Regardless, the benefits of Workplace Giving Campaigns positively impact employees’ lives long after they clock out.

Managing a workplace campaign has been a major highlight of my professional career. Leading this charge has opened the door to dozens of meaningful friendships and opportunities that have enhanced my life for the better. My experience has caused me see my co-workers not only as colleagues – but as comrades, teammates and changemakers joining me in the fight to create a safer, healthier and happier Pittsburgh.

And the best part? Together, our impact is boundless.

To learn more about United Way’s Workplace Giving Campaigns please visit uwswpa.org/giving-back-is-good-business.