By Cheryl Kortemeier, Executive Director, Corporate Volunteer Council of Atlanta
In a city known for civic leadership and social innovation, corporate service is deeply embedded in Atlanta’s business culture. By rolling up their sleeves and showing up, Atlanta companies strengthen both their teams and their communities. For many companies, hosting large-scale days of service in partnership with local nonprofits is a key part of their year-round corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs.
A corporate day of service is when a company dedicates a full or partial workday for employees to volunteer in the community. These events provide employees with hands-on opportunities to support local causes and address urgent social needs, while also fostering team spirit and a shared sense of purpose. In Atlanta, such days of service have become a powerful tradition. Additionally, many companies headquartered outside Georgia also engage their Atlanta-based employees in these types of efforts.
For example, Ryan LLC, a Texas-based tax service and software provider with a strong Atlanta presence, recently held its 10th annual RyanSHARES Day. CEO G. Brint Ryan challenged each office to achieve 100% employee participation. Atlanta employees embraced this challenge, with 233 team members volunteering across five impactful projects focused on food insecurity, pet safety, and more. Many employees also made financial contributions to their favorite causes.
Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), headquartered in New York, hosts an annual Impact Day that engages over 7,500 employees worldwide. Last year, hundreds of Atlanta-based WBD employees participated in service activities aligned with the company’s pillars: helping vulnerable communities, protecting the planet, and creating career pathways. Many also utilized WBD’s volunteer grant program, which awards $10 per hour for up to 100 volunteer hours to nonprofits supported by employees.
Bank of America, based in Charlotte, NC, holds a month-long Global Volunteer Month each year. In 2024, nearly half of Bank of America’s Atlanta employees took part, supporting projects related to social services, education, housing, and health. They partnered with organizations such as Atlanta Habitat for Humanity, Covenant House Atlanta, and the Latin American Association to address these critical focus areas.
If your company is interested in organizing an annual day of service, the Corporate Volunteer Council of Atlanta (CVC) can help. The CVC supports member companies year-round in their commitment to social impact and civic engagement by sharing best practices and facilitating peer-to-peer collaboration. Corporations of all sizes are invited to learn more at www.cvcofatlanta.org.
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