Civic Affairs

Through the ideas, planning and coordination of committee members, and the excellent support of Alliant employees, several extremely successful Civic Affairs programs have been held for worthwhile causes through the year. What’s more, two Holiday season related charitable activities are being planned. They include a Holiday Food Drive for northwest suburban Chicago residents at need and Alliant’s participation in United Airlines Operation North Pole Fantasy Flight for seriously ill children in the Chicago area.

Civic Affairs initiatives during the year include:

2007 School Supplies Drive

Colleen Panzino loads school supplies

In August, Alliant employees responded tremendously to our 2nd Annual School Supplies Collection. $3,000 worth of supplies were donated, including pens, pencils, crayons, scissors and more…even dictionaries.

Civic Affairs Committee members pose near school supplies delivery truck

Partnering with TravelClick, one of Alliant’s select employee groups, and receiving significant book bag price discounts offered by High Sierra Sport Company greatly enhanced the program. In fact, we were able to give $20,000 in supplies (including donations and discounts) to nearly 400 students of Gary Elementary in Chicago’s Little Village community.

Lee Shafer speaks at student assembly

While speaking at the student assembly held to hand out the school supplies kits, Alliant Senior Vice President Lee Shafer said, “We’re extremely happy to help the students of Gary Elementary and proud of our employees’100% involvement in this great cause.”

Students gathered at assembly

Students line up to receive book bags

“Volley ’07” Employee Volleyball Tournament
The 2nd Annual Employee Volleyball Tournament was held to benefit Hadley School for the Blind. Alliant employees donated nearly $6,000, topping last year’s excellent amount by a significant margin.

This year’s event was co-sponsored by the Civic Affairs and Employee Events Committees. Ten teams of employees competed. Festivities included a fundraising raffle and a free lunch for all employees. The “You Got Served” team, captained by Albert Obay, won the tournament.

Tournament winners “You Got Served” celebrate with trophy, medals and forefingers

In addition, the volleyball teams and a non-playing team of employees all took part in a fundraising competition. “This Won’t Take Long”, captained by Laura M. Wallace, donated the most of any team, earning team members a free lunch with Dave Mooney.

Several members of fundraising champs “This Won’t Take Long”

Members Scholarship and National Education Computer Gift Programs
This year, five Alliant member college students each won a $2,000 scholarship donated by Civic Affairs in our Members Scholarship Program. Nearly 200 members whose entries were graded on academic performance, community involvement, personal goals and an essay about what Alliant membership means to them.

The National Education Computer Gift Program awarded gift cards for computer equipment from CDW. Using any media, entrants described what they want to be when they grow up and how a computer can help them succeed. Nine winners (three in each of three youth age categories) won a total of over $5,000 in gift cards.

Operation HOPE
Over 30 Alliant employee volunteers signed up to teach financial literacy classes this year at two Des Plaines middle schools, through Operation Hope’s “Banking on Our Future” program. Once November and December schedules are completed, our volunteers will have taught classes in banking, checking & savings, credit and investment over 16 weeks of the 2007 calendar year…helping students to learn about managing their finances.

Chicago Cares Serve-a-thon
Several employees helped repaint an inner city school on June 9th, in the city’s biggest single day charitable event of the year

Y-Me Breast Cancer Race and other charity event participation
90 Alliant employees, friends and family members signed up to run or walk on Mothers Day in support of the Y-Me Breast Cancer Organization. Civic Affairs made donations on behalf of employee volunteers. In addition, Alliant has donated money on behalf of employees participating in a number of charitable fundraisers of their choice during the year.

Gently used Shoe Collection
In April, employees donated over 300 pairs of shoes to Salvation Army. Along with local employee participation, shoes came from as far away as San Francisco.

Carson’s Goodwill Clothing Drive
During March, employees donated hundreds of clothing items which were delivered to Carsons in a totally loaded mailroom mini-van.

The Civic Affairs Committee has additional charitable and community events scheduled for late 2007 (see above) and expects to be quite active with programs in 2008. Alliant employees interested in joining the Civic Affairs team or participating in related activities should contact Rob Russell at Ext. 2183.