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The holiday season is a perfect time to reflect on what really matters and strengthen bonds with not only family and friends, but also the people with whom you work closely every day. In the spirit of people helping people, why not celebrate the season by giving back to your community and building camaraderie on your team? Forgoing the office holiday party or secret Santa gift exchange to spend the time helping others instead, is a great way to bring your team together, promote problem solving, and foster team bonding. Nothing is more energizing and motivating than uniting behind a worthy cause, collaborating on solutions, and making a positive difference — together.
Here are five rewarding holiday team building activities to help your team give back, get closer, and have fun!
1. Celebrate the holidays with seniors.
According to the Institute for Family Studies, more than 60 percent of seniors in nursing homes don’t have visitors and experience loneliness that can intensify during the holidays. Bring a sense of family and friendship to seniors who may be alone this season by volunteering at a local nursing home or hosting a holiday event for residents. Many senior care facilities also organize and plan activities for the holidays, inviting families, volunteers and the community to share food, fun and festivities.
2. Bring cheer to hospitalized kids with heartfelt holiday cards.
Many children battling serious illnesses remain in hospital care for a long time, making this time of year especially difficult for these young patients and their families. For an inspiring team building activity, plan and organize holiday card and care package donations for your local children’s hospital, or send handmade cards with an uplifting message of hope to brighten their rooms and their spirits while they recover. Set up a design station in the company break room where team members can create and decorate their customized holiday greetings.
3. Give a gift to a child in need.
Spread holiday joy to children in vulnerable communities through the gift of a new toy. The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is one of the best-known charities that has been collecting and distributing toys to America’s disadvantaged children since 1947. Instead of a holiday party, build a holiday themed team building activity around a Toys for Tots event at your office, become a toy drop-off site, or volunteer at a local warehouse. Connect with your local Toys for Tots program or another organization in your community to donate holiday gifts to children in need. Don’t forget to think about the larger, world-wide community as well. Consider running a toy drive event for one of the thousands of shelters or orphanages supporting children in need around the globe.
4. Volunteer together for a local cause.
Use a service like VolunteerMatch to find great ideas for local organizations and causes your team can support as part of your next holiday team building activity. Whether you volunteer at a local food bank to serve holiday meals, donate time and goods to a homeless shelter, or support an organization like Baby2Baby to provide basic necessities to children living in poverty — giving back as a team creates opportunities to bond with each other and make a real impact on your community.
5. Lend a hand to a local animal shelter.
Don’t forget to show our furry friends some love during the holidays. Give back to a local animal shelter or a service like Pets of the Homeless by hosting a donation drive to collect much-needed pet food and supplies. To take your support to the next level, partner with a shelter or rescue organization to organize a local pet adoption event in your community. Your team can also spend time volunteering together at a local shelter to help orphan pets find their forever home this holiday season.
Whether you stage a food drive, volunteer with the local fire department, help rebuild a local small business after a disaster or participate in any of other community activities on this list, working together for a greater purpose is at the heart of building a strong corporate culture. Finding meaningful ways to give back during the holidays promotes team building by boosting engagement, fostering collaboration and rallying people around a common cause. It also brings our culture and values to life by demonstrating our dedication to serving others and making a positive difference in the communities where we live and work.
Cydcor was proud to support our local community and fellow Californians as the premier sponsor of Rock the Recovery, a night of food, and music in support of California Strong. Funds raised at the benefit concert, which took place on Sunday, Aug. 4th at The Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, will help California Strong provide disaster relief funds to California residents impacted by future local tragedies like the Borderline shooting in Thousands Oaks, as well as the Camp, Woolsey, and Hill fires that wreaked havoc across our state.
Rock the Recovery was founded by Ava Flora Friedman, a Westlake High School senior who was inspired by the power of music to bring people together. The event featured performances by an exciting lineup popular local bands from a variety of genres: JACQX, Goodnight Kiss, Sitting on Stacy, Jake Parr, The Malibooz, and headliner Ray Parker Jr. and his all-star band. Hosted by professional comedian, author, and speaker Joe Dungan, the evening also included heartfelt words from Cydcor President Vera Quinn, as well as Rock the Recovery founder Ava Flora Friedman, California Strong Director Danielle Stone, Borderline shooting survivors Hannah Michalak and Cassidy Addison, Congressman Brad Sherman, and community member, painter, and poet Cindy Martia.
Check out video highlights from the event!
Through ticket sales, Rock the Recovery merchandise sales, and prize raffle sales, the event surpassed its fundraising goal, bringing in $35,000 in proceeds on behalf of California Strong.
Drawing on a shared love of music and their home town, event attendees danced, laughed, and rocked out, proving that when communities unite, they can overcome anything. Cydcor was grateful for the opportunity to play a role in making this remarkable event a successful one.
Cydcor is thrilled to announce that our 2018, annual Day of Smiles fundraising event is underway! This week, Cydcor team members, along with volunteers from Cydcor's network of independent sales companies will stage a variety of fundraisers around the country. Teams will put their sales talents to work, building awareness and raising funds on behalf of Operation Smile. One of the oldest and largest volunteer-based organizations dedicated to improving the health and lives of children worldwide, through access to surgical care, Operation Smile provides life-changing cleft lip and palate corrective surgeries at no cost, to children in need.
Teams participating in the event will get creative, planning fundraisers that vary from car washes and apparel sales, to bake sales and sporting events. Each year, Cydcor's Day of Smiles event brings in thousands of dollars to support Operation Smile's mission to ensure every child has access to safe surgical care. In addition, Cydcor team members and participants from the network of independent sales companies have had the opportunity to attend five Operation Smile medical missions around the globe that they themselves have helped fund through their outreach efforts. On Operation Smile medical missions, surgical teams comprised of credentialed medical volunteers provide life-changing surgeries for children with cleft lip and cleft palate, as well as free medical assessments, and support for family and loved ones of patients. Recently, Operation Smile’s founder, Dr. Magee personally thanked Cydcor for its ongoing contribution.
Cydcor has been partnering with Operation Smile since 2010, collaborating with the sales company owners in Cydcor’s network in a variety of fundraising projects. To date, Cydcor has raised nearly $1,000,000, to help Operation Smile ensure no child goes without surgical care. That’s enough to heal more than 4,000 smiles. This is an important year for Cydcor’s Day of Smiles, as we have that $1,000,000 mark in our sights and we plan to hit our goal!
People seek ways to make differences in their community – even at work. They want to work for companies that make a positive impact. Providing charity and volunteering opportunities to team members benefits employers as well by boosting employee engagement. Companies that offer volunteering experience are able to recruit top talent, retain employees longer, and create an environment of collaboration in the work place.
Company sponsored corporate philanthropy and corporate giving programs also offer benefits to the employees themselves. These volunteering opportunities help employees master new skills, prepare to take on greater responsibility, and contribute to the community beyond the office walls. By committing to a cause, companies can provide valuable services to the community while strengthening and uniting their workforce.
Here are seven valuable lessons employees learn from community service:
Service projects are growth opportunities for employees, because they teach valuable lessons and skills employees can apply to their daily work. Volunteer activities unite teams around causes that are important to them and the community. Employer-sponsored volunteer work helps assure them that the work they do serves a greater purpose. Committing to a cause by donating money or time simultaneously benefits communities, companies, and the employees who work there. Companies who sponsor volunteer opportunities also boost their bottom line by building a workforce that is building new skills, happier, and more engaged.
On March 8th, 2017, a team of eight volunteers, including top fundraisers from our network of independent sales offices, as well as a Cydcor team member, returned home from their life-changing medical volunteer trip to Guadalajara, Mexico. There, they worked alongside a dedicated Operation Smile team of volunteers for an adventure they will never forget. While on the mission, volunteers Amanda Tram, Ben Gouwens, David Espinal, Donny Boyer, Melissa White, Mouad Alami, Sandra Tejada, and Yesi Andrade assisted the Operation Smile medical team by attending patient screenings, escorting patients to their surgeries, entertaining children and their families as they wait for their procedures, and reuniting families with their children post-op.
While these much-needed surgeries can transform the lives of children who may not have been able to eat or speak properly prior to having the procedure, or who do not attend school for of fear of being teased, participating in the medical missions and witnessing children’s emotional journeys can often have a profound effect on the volunteers as well.
“There is one moment of the volunteer trip that will be etched in my mind forever. Alejandra, the little girl we fell in love with, had a pretty severe cleft lip and was very aware of how she looked, despite being an extremely happy child. When she came out of surgery, I used my phone to show her what she looked like. She stared at herself for a couple seconds as if she didn’t recognize herself, until she gave the sweetest smile I have ever seen. My heart melted. The trajectory of her life at that moment was changed forever!” said Melissa White.
“I am impressed by the courage and strength these kids have. I was very touched by Paulina, an 11-year-old who traveled with her brother from far away in hopes of getting the surgery that would restore her smile. I can't imagine everything going through Paulina's head; first time out of her village, seeing a big city for the first time, not being able to understand anyone but her brother. The most incredible moment was seeing her look at herself for the first time. She was in shock, almost confused. A few minutes later, you could see tears rolling down her cheeks. I could not stop crying, I will remember that moment forever,” shared Cydcor team member Yesi Andrade.
In addition to our corporate volunteer program, Cydcor has been partnering with Operation Smile on fundraising initiatives since 2010. Cydcor holds an annual Day of Smiles event, along with many other fundraising events throughout the year, to help provide free cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries for children from low and middle income countries. With the support of more than 3,000 dedicated volunteers from our network of more than 375 independent sales offices, we have raised more than $800,000 to date. That’s enough to bring smiles to the faces of nearly 3,500 children.
Operation Smile’s vision of a world where no child suffers from lack of access to safe, well timed, and effective surgery fits well with the values of our business.
“We are a people helping people business, and it is evident from the way Operation Smile treats their patients, the community, and their volunteers that they are as well,” said Donny Boyer.
Cydcor CEO, Gary Polson explains the immense value of lending our support to great causes like Operation Smile. “We can achieve the great lives we aspire to live, by taking actions that improve the lives of others. We must be compassionate and help those in need. We must take initiative to help others beat the odds. We must act with humility and set the example. Our business gives us countless opportunities to help other people. I am so proud of who we are and what we accomplish together. We become great when we do great things, especially when we do them for others."
“What unites us all is the shared belief that we have an obligation to provide people with an opportunity to lead a better life. This extends far beyond the boundaries of our business, to helping people in our communities and in faraway places.” Said Cydcor President, Vera Quinn.
Cydcor continues our commitment to helping Operation Smile change lives through both our corporate volunteer program and fundraising efforts, and we look forward to achieving $1 million dollars raised on the organization’s behalf.
To learn more about Cydcor and our support of Operation Smile, please visit our donation home page.
Operation Smile is an international medical charity that has provided hundreds of thousands of free surgeries for children and young adults in developing countries who are born with cleft lip, cleft palate or other facial deformities. It is one of the oldest and largest volunteer-based organizations dedicated to improving the health and lives of children worldwide through access to surgical care. Since 1982, Operation Smile has developed expertise in mobilizing volunteer medical teams to conduct surgical missions in resource-poor environments while adhering to the highest standards of care and safety. Operation Smile helps to fill the gap in providing access to safe, well-timed surgeries by partnering with hospitals, governments and ministries of health, training local medical personnel, and donating much-needed supplies and equipment to surgical sites around the world. Founded and based in Virginia, U.S., Operation Smile has extended its global reach to more than 60 countries through its network of credentialed surgeons, pediatricians, doctors, nurses, and student volunteers. For more information, visit www.operationsmile.org.
On Wednesday, May 17th, at West Edge, NYC, Operation Smile held its 2017 New York Smile Event to celebrate 35 years of providing free surgeries for children and young adults in developing countries who are born with cleft lip or cleft palate conditions. Over the years, this philanthropy event celebrating helping hands and generous hearts has become one of the most anticipated events of the spring season, bringing together 250 guest from Manhattan and around the globe to celebrate the cleft lip and cleft palate charity, including New York business and community leaders and other philanthropically-minded individuals passionate about this worthy cause.
Cydcor, along with our network of more than 3,000 volunteers from 375 independent sales offices, has been partnering with Operation Smile since 2010, holding an annual Day of Smiles fundraising event, along with many other fundraisers throughout the year.
Cydcor invited four top-fundraising independent sales office owners to attend the philanthropy event, which included a gallery exhibit, hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, and dancing. Also in attendance were Cydcor Vice Chairman Jim Majeski along with wife and Operation Smile Founders Circle Award winner, Barbara Majeski.
To date, Cydcor has raised more than $800,000 for Operation Smile, and we look forward to achieving more than $1 million raised on the organization’s behalf. Accomplishing that goal will make us smile too.
To learn more about Cydcor and our support of the cleft lip and cleft palate charity Operation Smile, please visit our donation home page.
Operation Smile is an international medical charity that has provided hundreds of thousands of free surgeries for children and young adults in developing countries who are born with cleft lip, cleft palate or other facial deformities. It is one of the oldest and largest volunteer-based organizations dedicated to improving the health and lives of children worldwide through access to surgical care. Since 1982, Operation Smile has developed expertise in mobilizing volunteer medical teams to conduct surgical missions in resource-poor environments while adhering to the highest standards of care and safety. Operation Smile helps to fill the gap in providing access to safe, well-timed surgeries by partnering with hospitals, governments and ministries of health, training local medical personnel, and donating much-needed supplies and equipment to surgical sites around the world. Founded and based in Virginia, U.S., Operation Smile has extended its global reach to more than 60 countries through its network of credentialed surgeons, pediatricians, doctors, nurses, and student volunteers. For more information, visit www.operationsmile.org.
Servant leadership is a concept which holds that adopting a service-focused mindset simultaneously benefits corporations, their employees, and the community at large. At Cydcor, the Agoura Hills based leader in outsourced sales, we know first-hand that our “People helping people” motto is more than just good PR; it’s good business. The benefits of participating in community service stretch well beyond creating a “feel good” vibe around the office (though they include that, too). Servant leadership empowers employees, builds critical skills to succeed in business, and fosters a sense of teamwork, community, and renewed commitment to the organization’s shared goals.
1) Empathizing with Others: Acting as servant leaders helps team members better relate to customers and to each other. Finding common ground is a necessary first step for building trust and is a key ingredient for forming strong and lasting partnerships.
2) Learning to Listen: Serving others forces employees to master the skill of listening. Indispensable and hard to teach in these times of selfies and tweets, the ability to hear and process information from others offers inarguable advantages in sales or any kind of business interaction.
3) Getting the Message Out: Servant leadership is all about gaining and raising awareness for critical issues affecting the global community. This push to spread a message for good can help employees hone the marketing and sales skills they’ll also use to advocate on behalf of their clients.
4) Dreaming Big: In order to envision a better world, servant leaders must set ambitious goals and create plans to achieve them. In business, the ability to think big and devise viable action plans to attain goals is critical to realizing personal and organizational growth and success.
5) Looking Ahead: Having foresight helps servant leaders anticipate and sidestep roadblocks in advance and create contingency plans to overcome the challenges that might lie ahead. Employees who master this skill through service can support their organizations with the strategic planning necessary to sustain business growth in a competitive business landscape.
6) Changing Minds: A critical task of servant leaders is to effectively persuade others to care, to give, or to volunteer to help achieve a common goal. They learn how to use consensus, not manipulation or coercion, to bring others on board and reframe thinking. This power to unite teams, recruit participants, and boost enthusiasm for causes and goals can give employees an edge when selling and promoting products, training direct reports, and building their crew.
7) Being Model Mentors: A defining characteristic of servant leadership is stewardship. Servant leaders see their role as one of developing others and helping them hone their skills to take on greater responsibility. Growing the leaders of tomorrow benefits the individuals, promotes growth within an organization, and trains future advocates for the community at large.
8) Committing to Growth: Good servant leaders make it their mission to help others achieve their goals and reach their full potential. They push others to venture outside of their comfort zones and create bold visions for the future. This passion for growth can help organizations stay competitive, inspires innovation, and builds a culture where employees believe success is achievable.
9) Building Community: A concept that spans employee teams, organizations, and society at large; employees who feel a strong sense of community view themselves as vital parts of something larger. They are motivated to perform because they know that what benefits the community, benefits them as well.
10) Taking Joy in the Journey: The greatest servant leaders are those who help spread excitement throughout organizations and into the community. They help maintain a positive outlook and thrive on the thrill of overcoming challenges. Acknowledging employees’ hard work and rewarding them for their achievements helps foster a community of servant leaders who express pride in themselves through excellence at their jobs.
Encouraging employees to act as servant leaders has benefits across every aspect of a business. It improves moral and unity, it fosters a positive relationship between companies and their communities, and it helps develop a workforce that is well prepared for the complex challenges of tomorrow.
Last year, Cydcor raised over $270,000 for Operation Smile to help fund cleft palate surgeries for needy children around the globe. In July, the fundraiser surpassed $150,000, enough to fund a medical mission to another country. The mission involves sending doctors, volunteers and equipment to an area where access to healthcare is difficult, and provide screenings and surgeries for children. Cleft palates often result in complications eating, drinking and speaking, and many infants do not survive. Those that do often cannot attend school. Operation Smile hopes to restore millions of smiles and give those children a better chance at thriving.
This week, Cydcor volunteers are in San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico, meeting some of the people the money they raised are helping. In 2012, volunteers made a similar trip to Brazil, where more than 600 surgeries were provided to children. Cydcor is proud of their partnership with Operation Smile and plans to continue working with the organization in the future.
During the mission, volunteers have had the chance to spend time with the families of the children being operated on and see them through the transition of the surgery. Part of the strategy of Operation Smile is to assist facilities in the field to achieve the ability to provide the treatment of cleft palates and other facial deformities on their own.
You can make a donation to Operation Smile today and support this great cause. Help Cydcor fund another mission!
We know little things can add up to a big difference. In continuing our fundraising work for Operation Smile, we have been collecting recyclables and donating the proceeds!
We placed recycling containers designated especially for Operation Smile fundraising around the office. Once they are filled, a Cydcor team member volunteer brings the items to the recycling center to collect the refund.
We have already raised enough for one Smile (each one is $240) and are well on our way to another – our current tally is almost $380!
Since partnering with Operation Smile in 2010, Cydcor and volunteers from its network of independently-owned sales companies have raised enough to fund two medical missions, and are well on the way to a third! The missions take place in areas of the world with limited medical care; a team of professionals provide cleft palate surgeries to those who would have no way of obtaining the surgery otherwise.
We’re really excited about each and every dollar we are able to raise and contribute. Operation Smile is our passion. Recycling is so easy to do and can really add up – and make a difference.
Cydcor is happy and proud of its efforts to give back to the communities that support our business. You can donate to the Cydcor Operation Smile page today and make a difference in a child’s life.
Cydcor has renewed its commitment to EARTHS Magnet School and is continuing to send team member volunteers to the Environmental Academy of Research Technology and Earth Sciences (EARTHS) Magnet School to work with children in grades K/1 and K/2, further demonstrating their commitment to their community.
Each day of the week, two different team members from Cydcor volunteer an hour in one of these classrooms, working with children and teachers on a variety of projects and learning sessions.
Last year, Cydcor team members created literacy kits for faculty, which contained games and activities for students to encourage reading comprehension. Volunteers also assisted the school in a gardening project – in line with the earth science focus of the magnet school.
“Cydcor volunteers are a true gift to our students! Our kindergarten children look forward to interacting with the Cydcor staff, and their presence allows students to receive individual and small group time,” said Jennifer Boone, principal of EARTHS. “The time and impact mentors have on our children is priceless. Cydcor is a true example of a business that gives back to the community.”
“Our goal is to support EARTHS by mentoring the kids, helping them cultivate confidence in their own skills and abilities,” said Cydcor Chief Operating Officer Vera Quinn. “Gaining the academic skills to succeed is just one part. Mentorship is so important to the overall development of children, and we really want to make a difference in their lives.”
This year, Cydcor will also be hosting their annual Thanksgiving Canned Food Drive for the families in need at EARTHS. Last year, they were able to help 100 families; this year, they plan to make a difference in 115 families’ lives. Additionally, over the next year, Cydcor team members will continue volunteering time and their role as a community partner with the school.
Want to learn more? Check out Cydcor on Facebook and Twitter.
About Cydcor
Cydcor is the leading provider of outsourced, face-to-face Cydcor sales teams to a diverse client base of companies in a wide range of industries, including telecommunications, office products, retail, energy, and financial services. Serving Fortune 500 and emerging market clients in the business-to-business, residential, and retail channels through in-store marketing initiatives, Cydcor works with a network of more than 350 independently-owned corporate licensee (ICL) Cydcor sales offices, providing clients access to more than 4,300 sales professionals. The privately-held company is based in Westlake Village, California. For more information about Cydcor, go to www.cydcor.com.
Cydcor
Gail Michalak, 805-277-5500
Cydcor worked together with the network of independent sales companies to create fundraising events to raise enough money to fund a medical mission for Operation Smile. The trip, at a total of $150,000, will fund a team of surgeons to help correct cleft palates in poor countries.
Independent sales companies sold brown bag lunches, threw parties, held events and sales, and many more creative ideas from coast to coast. Check out our video of all of our fantastic, engaged team members.