Rising outreach

Volunteer hours, donations marked Bendix efforts in 2022

Avon-based Bendix and Bendix team members awarded upwards of $1 million in grants and donations and logged close to 9,000 volunteer hours toward a wider variety of project in 2022, according to a news release.

The organization ascribes to a philosophy of corporate responsibility focusing on social cohesion, underserved youth and families in its communities, the release said.

During 2022, Bendix awarded $388,454 in grants, sponsorships and donations from the company and its employees to multiple diverse nonprofit organizations and community initiatives in the areas where Bendix operates in North America, the company said.

“The community support we offered our communities in 2022 was exceptional, with participation numbers up almost 10% from the previous year,” said Maria Gutierrez, Bendix senior director, environmental, social and governance, in the release. “We saw employees dedicating more volunteer hours to more projects in more ways.

“Team members selected a wide cross-section of projects that fit with our community support goals. We volunteered in person and virtually, and it was clear that teams were going above and beyond. At a corporate level and individually, we donated funds but also much more.

“We gave shoes, toys, food, school supplies and clothing.

“We gave blood during blood drives, made blankets, and built homes and bunk beds.

“Support teams gained new members, and they shared a wealth of ideas. It was a fantastic year for Bendix’s support to our communities.”

Twin facets of involvement

Two major facets of Bendix support efforts continued to stem from the company’s employee-driven Local Care teams, which identify community-specific initiatives large and small to sponsor at each location, and Bendix’s companywide Get Involved! program, where employees submit projects for consideration to earn up to $3,500 in corporate grant support, the release said.

Of the $388,454 that Bendix contributed to all initiatives, a little over half took the form of corporate grants and sponsorships to local nonprofits or matching funds.

More than a third represented Bendix grants from the company’s Get Involved! program, and approximately 10% were employee donations and fundraising efforts.

Bendix’s Local Care teams — comprised of employee volunteers — are charged with ensuring each location in North America hosts one or more corporate-sponsored volunteer events, sponsors additional events in the community, and connects Bendix employees at all locations with a range of volunteer opportunities to consider supporting, the company reported.

Local Care teams awarded $216,500 in donations and sponsorships to a variety of organizations and initiatives in the communities near Bendix facilities in Avon and other locations.

Participation was strong across all locations, including the Avon headquarters, where 25% of employees volunteered for one or more initiatives, the release said.

In Avon, employees gathered to build bunk beds for families in need in collaboration with Sleep in Heavenly Peace.

Employees also donated financially to a wide variety of company-sponsored fundraisers.

Approximately $38,787 in employee donations went to help organizations and initiatives such as United Way, scholarship funds and disaster relief collections.

Separately, Bendix’s Get Involved! program awarded $133,159 in grants to efforts and organizations that Bendix employees are currently supporting on their own.

Bendix continued to provide every employee with up to 16 hours of paid time off to volunteer for company-approved initiatives, the release said.

Bendix volunteers turned out in green-shirted force last summer to build bunk beds for children in need during an on-site event at company headquarters in Avon. They partnered with Sleep in Heavenly Peace. SUBMITTED