Everyone loves to have a choice — what we wear, what we eat, who we spend our time with. So why would giving back be any different?
That’s what Marvin Windows and Doors believes, and it’s the reason why the 100-year-old family-owned company has been a Giving Hearts Business for six years.
“One of the most meaningful Giving Hearts Day traditions we have is partnering with employees to let them choose which organizations Marvin supports,” says Marvin Engagement Specialist Casie Floberg. “There are so many incredible charities in the Fargo-Moorhead area, and we let employees vote for their favorites each year.”
Each January, Marvin employees vote for their favorite participating GHD nonprofit. They then narrow the list down to the top 10, and then, the week before Giving Hearts Day, they select the top five.
“On Giving Hearts Day, we surprise the winners with big checks,” Floberg says. “It’s a powerful way to amplify employee voices and include them in experiencing the impact we can make in our community.”
One of the trends they’ve noticed is how much their team loves the dozens of animal organizations that participate in the day.=
“There’s almost always one in the mix!” says Floberg.
Marvin has also gotten creative with how they encourage their team members to participate in the day in other ways. They do a bingo activity where, in order to a fill a square, team members have to complete prompts such as:
“Inform a friend about Giving Hearts Day.”
“Donate to Giving Hearts Day.”
“Ask a coworker how their day is going.”
Once they get a bingo, they’re entered into a drawing for a GHD gift card drawing for a chance to make a donation to a charity of their choice.
Between these interactive activities, hosting goods drives, volunteering at local organizations such as the Great Plains Food Bank and Ronald McDonald House, and wearing red on the day, Marvin believes they’re not only doing good but also becoming an employer of choice for area professionals.
“Workforce retention and recruitment come with challenges,” Floberg says. “By fostering a give-back culture as part of our workplace, we’re making a direct impact. Giving Hearts Day helps us strengthen that culture year after year.”
