Look in Webster’s for a definition of philanthropy and volunteerism and you may find this organization among those listed. CACI is in its 54th year as a leading provider of information solutions and services to the federal government. But its corporate mission–to support government priorities–has led to a mission that has volunteerism tightly woven into its culture. Under the name CACI Cares, it includes employees supporting education, fostering community citizenship, and serving those who served (armed forces).
According to Meredith Gordon, Internal Communications Coordinator, “If you like to volunteer, CACI is your company! Volunteerism at CACI incorporates connection and camaraderie.”
The strong military focus of CACI Cares may be because of CACI’s commitment to veteran support–the company has a robust program of hiring, mentoring, and supporting veterans with an employee resource group, as well as promoting volunteerism and philanthropic initiatives for the troops. Or it may be because CACI employees, many of whom are veterans themselves, are deeply committed to supporting our active military and veterans.
In April 2015, CACI was nominated (and awarded) a Fairfax County Volunteer Service Award, in the Corporate Volunteer Program category. The judging panel was favorably impressed with reports that CACI employees have, over the past 10 years, logged more than 2,700 hours at USO-Metro (USO of Metropoitan Washington-Baltimore) initiatives, which translates to approximately $113,000 in value for USO-Metro. One of the largest of activities was the 2013 opening of the USO Warrior and Family Center at Fort Belvoir, VA.
Elaine Rogers, President of USO-Metro says, “It is thanks to dedicated employee volunteers from corporations like CACI that the USO Center at Ft. Belvoir is able to express the appreciation and support of the American people for those who sacrifice so much for our freedoms.”
For the past three years CACI employees have supported the USO-Metro at Ft. Belvoir, where volunteers regularly conduct Bingo events, play Trivial Pursuit, serve dinner, host date nights, and socialize with the troops and their families. This year volunteers set up, served, and cleaned up a Thanksgiving Meal for 230 troops and their families to enjoy!
AND, the thanks and giving doesn’t stop with the USO-Metro. On Saturday, Dec. 12, CACI volunteers will join dozens of dedicated folks for Wreaths Across America, a national initiative to place wreaths in every military cemetery.
Visiting CACI’s website, you will be impressed with their long list of honors and awards as an employer and a corporate citizen. These accolades are earned in accordance with their philosophy of maintaining a character-based culture where “Good character defines who we are, how we act, and what we believe is the right way to do business.”
Employee volunteering is good for business! Volunteer Fairfax works in our community to connect for-profit resources with nonprofit need. To learn more about corporate social responsibility opportunities, contact Jessica Warren at jwarren@volunteerfairfax.org.