We are honored to be named to People Magazine’s 2021 “Companies that Care” list, which celebrates top American companies that not only have succeeded in business, but demonstrate outstanding respect, care and concern for their employees and communities.
For 24 years, LaSalle Network has focused on helping people. Helping people find jobs, helping people build their teams, and helping make our communities stronger. Philanthropy and giving back has always been a cornerstone of our culture, and we’re sharing some of the ways we’ve done just that. Check back in regularly, as we will update this blog with new ways we’re giving back and ideas for how to get involved.
If you’re looking to be a part of an organization that is actively invested in the community and supports employees’ desire to give back, apply today!
Blood Drive
We partnered with the American Red Cross to host a blood drive on-site in our headquarters for any LaSallian wanting to and able to donate.
Charity Support
No LaSalle Network celebration is complete without integrating some way to give back to our community, especially causes near and dear to LaSallian’s hearts. Throughout the anniversary week celebration, LaSallians were able to submit their favorite charity along with a paragraph on why it stands out and is special to them. At the end of the week, eight charities were chosen to support, which was announced at the toast before the LaSallemas party celebration. The charities supported included:
- Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
- The Children’s Heart Foundation
- GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer
- The Hispanic Institute
- Hazelden Betty Ford
- Harrisburg Humane Society
- The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
- Dave Thomas Foundation
Backpack Drive
Our Diversity, Equity and Belonging Committee (DEB) organized a school supply drive with Kids Above All, raising nearly $1,000 to provide backpacks and needed resources for elementary, middle and high school students in need in the Chicago area.
By the Hand
Brought to us by our Diversity, Equity and Belonging committee, a group of LaSallians spent a day in the Austin neighborhood at ‘By The Hand’ to get facilities ready for students this fall.
By The Hand has 6 locations in underserved communities throughout Chicago and partner with charter schools to provide an after-school/summer program that helps kids from kindergarten through college – focusing on areas like improving literacy levels and expanding their knowledge of career paths.
March Fourth
Our team stands with the community of Highland Park, and all of those supporting March Fourth in Washington, DC. Our own Kitty Brandtner is one of the founding members of March Fourth and has mobilized hundreds of people from impacted communities of mass shootings across the country to call on the federal government to ban assault weapons nationwide, raising thousands of dollars to support victims and their families.
Cristo Rey
Congratulations to our Cristo Rey intern Jenni on her high school graduation! Since 2016, LaSalle Network has partnered with Cristo Rey for its Corporate Work Study Program, which helps students fund their education while gaining valuable professional work experience and building professional networks. For the past two years, Jenni has been working with LaSalle to support her high school education and we are honored to have helped her along the way.
Thresholds
LaSalle Network is proud to support Thresholds in its mission to transform the lives of people living with mental illnesses and substance use disorders. Our team joined Threshold’s annual gala to raise awareness for mental health and substance use conditions and to help break the stigma on mental health and substance abuse. Over the years, we have supported Thresholds in a variety of ways, including volunteering our time to host employment workshops for members and employees alike.
Clothing Drive
Our mother’s group, led by our Chief Operating Officer, meets quarterly, and most recently hosted a toy and clothing exchange for the parents of LaSalle, as well as a clothing and toy drive for local communities.
Veteran Job-Search Support
Through LaSalle Veteran Network, our team is committed to helping veterans transition to civilian careers. U.S. Army veteran and LaSalle Network Director of Operations, Christian Cañas, joined a veteran career fair in Ft. Campbell, Kentucky to help transitioning service members and military spouses.
Coffee, Hip-Hop & Mental Health
A team of LaSallians rode for a cause at Cycle Bar where all class proceeds went to Coffee, Hip-Hop & Mental Health, an organization that helps improve mental health in struggling neighborhoods.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is recognized as a National Day of Service, and we honored the legacy of Dr. King by encouraging those around us to spend time volunteering to improve their communities. LaSalle Network’s Community Champions and Diversity, Equity and Belonging committees partnered to provide LaSallians a list of ways to give back:
- Facing Forward to End Homelessness: A homeless shelter in Chicago is collecting “housewarming” baskets of essential items for those in need.
- My Chi, My Future: This foundation is hosting a networking event to discuss the state of education in their community.
- Forest Preserve Clean Up: Volunteer to clean up forest preserves around the Chicagoland area.
- My Block, My Hood, My City: Helped gather winter wear donations to serve Chicago’s homeless community.
- ChiGivesBack: Allows volunteers to help repaint a school’s cafeteria, gym, and teacher’s lounge while re-organizing their closet spaces.
- American Red Cross: Help mitigate the current blood-shortage crisis and consider donating.
Community Champions
Our employee-led philanthropy group, Community Champions, plans volunteer and philanthropic opportunities for LaSallians throughout the year, including anything from collecting donations, to organizing company-wide volunteer days and more. This group represents LaSallians of different teams, offices, and tenure!
Anniversary Charity Donations
In honor of our company anniversary, each year LaSalle Network donates to and coordinates volunteer opportunities with charities nominated by LaSallians. Employees submit charities they are passionate about, those selected are revealed during our CEO’s annual toast that kicks off the evening’s party!
LaSalle Veteran Network
LaSalle Network is committed to helping more than 1,000 veterans and military spouses land employment through LaSalle Network’s veteran hiring program, the LaSalle Veteran Network. This program is spearheaded by two LaSallian veterans and includes trained military career coaches aimed at helping connect organizations to top veteran talent, while also providing job–search resources to veterans. To learn more, click here.
My Block, My Hood, My City
LaSallians took to the streets for a residential block clean-up in partnership with My Block, My Hood, My City, a non-profit organization that is on a mission to inspire Chicago’s youth, empower communities, and build a better world one block at a time. LaSallians across teams, offices and tenure came together to clean up a district in Chicago’s South Side, a morning well-spent supporting an incredible cause! Learn how to get involved here.
Workforce MOMentum
Throughout the pandemic, a large portion of women left the workforce to care for families given the closures of schools and childcare throughout the nation. As of February 2021, the women’s labor force participation rate hit the lowest percentage since 1988, according to the National Women’s Law Center. In honor of Mother’s Day this last year, we held a week-long mentorship program in which women looking to get back into the workforce met with a career coach for job-search and career advice.
Feed My Starving Children
LaSallians came together to pack food parcels to be sent overseas in partnership with Feed My Starving Children, a non-profit dedicated to reversing and preventing undernutrition in children worldwide. Our team contributed to packing 16,200 meals that will feed 44 kids for an entire year! Interested in getting involved? Click here!
Veteran Resource Week
We honored Veterans by helping them the best way we know how: employment. Veteran Resource Week offered the opportunity for Veterans and MilSpouses to review their experience with LaSalle’s trained military career coaches and discuss resume writing advice, interview tips and open opportunities.
10 Days of Giving
Over two weeks during the holiday season, LaSalle Network employees participated in the first-ever 10 Days of Giving where we partnered with causes near and dear to our hearts, volunteering nearly 1,000 hours both in-person and virtually. From packing more than 1,500 food boxes for families in need, to wrapping 300+ presents for underprivileged children, to helping adults with disabilities with job-search coaching, to caroling at residences for adults with special needs, we were able to safely give back to our community when it was needed most. We unpacked all 10 days here: https://bit.ly/3mJFpzP
1,000 Hours in 1 Day
Last year, we decided to make LaSalle’s anniversary a day to give back to our community. Every LaSallian was given a day off to serve either in person (safely!) or virtually, based on their own preference and comfort levels. With 200+ sets of hands-on-deck, we contributed more than 1,000 hours of community service to benefit charities such as Pitch in for the Parks, Center for Enriched Living, Aspire, Kenneth Young Center, Special Olympics and Cristo Rey. Click here to learn more, and hear how you can get involved.
Canned Food Drive
LaSallians broke out into teams for a friendly competition, raising money for a canned food drive! Teams had two days to gather donations, and team leaders used the funds raised to shop for nonperishables, donating 5,061 items to the Greater Chicago Food Depository and $2,200 to Feeding America. As a whole, LaSallians helped to feed almost 80,000 people!
Time Off to Campaign
LaSalle offers every employee paid time off to campaign for a political cause or candidate of their choice. The ability to volunteer for various causes and campaigns encourages LaSallians to take action and make a difference within their communities.
Pen pals
While older members of the community were more isolated in order to stay safe and healthy during the pandemic, LaSallians organized a pen pal opportunity with local nursing homes. This allowed for kind and encouraging notes to be shared and new connections made during this challenging time.
If you’re looking to be a part of an organization that is actively invested in the community and supports employees’ desire to give back, apply today!
