4 Min. Reading

The marketing world frequently sees Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as a means for a company to work on its public image, save costs, and engage employees. But the reality is more complex. For a company’s CSR program to work, it has to put people first. That means the company has to connect its core business with the real world. 

Let’s define CSR in its technical terms. It is “a type of international private business self-regulation that aims to contribute to societal goals of a philanthropic, activist, or charitable nature by engaging in or supporting volunteering or ethically-oriented practices.” 

With this in mind, we know companies “have” to make a difference and in return, they benefit from tax deductions amongst others. But, CSR should be something all companies truly invest in. If you have to help, you might as well do it right. 

CSR can be as little as donating money or as big as running an entire event to recollect funds for a cause. Now, what makes a CSR program worth people’s time? The answer is DEDICATION. Dedication to the cause, to the end-to-end process, to the people it benefits, to the people it employees, to one’s morals, and much more. Without dedication, there is no true benefit. 

As a company, we are proud to say that our CSR matters, makes a difference, and most importantly it’s something each employee at Optime takes pride in being a part of. 

Optime Consulting has done it all, from 5Ks to creating events, donating our video production services, raffling a car, selling food, creating a villa for UCO, and much more. Every project that has been part of our CSR program and initiative has been done with love and dedication. 

One of our biggest accomplishments was being able to build the innovation classroom for United Community Options (and of course, continue supporting them). This villa/classroom supports children and adults with disabilities in the process of fully integrating into society.  

Similarly, besides being a proud Gold Sponsor of the American Cancer Society, last year Optime Consulting supported the ACS Hope BOWL by partnering with the ACS to be the official video production sponsor of the event. 

Every day we strive to be the best we can to ensure UCO and ACS have our devoted support. We look for ways to bring new initiatives and to ensure our past projects not only create awareness but most importantly they create change. 

About two weeks ago, we had the pleasure of honoring Pat Murphey, the Chief Relations Officer at United Community Options of South Florida. She has over 30 years of leadership at UCO in team building, staff training, and staff development. Without a doubt, she was an amazing candidate for our #iGrowSuccess movement where we aim to recognize powerful women in different industries. 

All in all, it’s true that CSR has direct benefits for companies. It increases employee engagement (we all work happier in places that value what we agree with), brings the company closer to different generations, like Millennials and Gen Zers, and improves the company’s public image. But for all of this to have deep, long-lasting impacts, it must be done with dedication.  It must put its capabilities to the service of society in a planned and structured manner. 

That way, the enterprise’s social efforts will have a greater impact, and, in return, it will connect better with its audiences creating changes that stick and not awareness that disappears. 

Business Trends – THE CRUCIAL ROLE OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
By: Isabela Rosa & Ana Maria Enciso, May 2021
Edited by: Isabela Rosa