Vista, Calif.-based technology vendor Bluepoint Solutions' mission stretches beyond providing paperless technology solutions to its clients, which include more than 1,500 credit unions.
Over the past six years, the vendor has developed a partnership with Monarch School, a K-12 school for homeless youth in San Diego, by giving monetary donations, hosting charity events and donating items. And Bluepoint Founder/CEO Hal Tilbury said he hopes to inspire other companies.
The partnership began when Tilbury heard about the school and sent in a donation. Soon after, he decided to donate 5% of the company's annual net income to Monarch School and match employees' donations to the school. Bluepoint also hosts a quarterly dinner, a prom, a Mother's Day luncheon, community drives and a career fair for the students and their families.
Tilbury said while Bluepoint employees are not required to participate in Monarch School activities, they've fully embraced them and regularly donate their time to the school outside of company-sponsored events. Employees' spouses and children even get involved, he said.
"The school is 40 miles away from where we're located, but that hasn't stopped them from making it a real labor of love," Tilbury said. "A lot of people would like to find a charity to be involved with, but that can be hard to find. So this is a targeted opportunity for Bluepoint employees."
In 2011, Bluepoint spent more than 80 days serving Monarch School, donated more than 1,900 items and served more than 158 attendees at its December quarterly dinner. The vendor has also raised money to support the construction of a new school facility. Tilbury presented the school with a $1 million grant, and at a community drive in December, the company raised more than $10,000 in one day for the school's new building fund.
Tilbury devotes weekly personal time to the school, for example by serving at each company-sponsored dinner and taking a group of students to golf lessons. He said one memory that stood out for him was a conversation he had with a 10-year-old boy.
"I asked him what it was he liked about the school, and he said, 'Monarch School is my home,'" Tilbury said. "Some people will break down when they hear that."
Tilbury said the charity work has allowed the company to gain more respect from its employees and given it a chance to serve as an example for other organizations looking to form a charitable partnership. He pointed out that the government does not fund schools for homeless kids, making donations critical to their existence.
"This isn't something the government can do, but organizations that make a living off of their communities have to understand that they can give back," he said.
In 2012, Tilbury said Bluepoint will continue to serve Monarch School at a steady pace.
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