Tag: 2024

In 2015 the United Nations laid out and adopted The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In that, they are focusing on 5 key areas: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnership. They expand on the idea of sustainability with the understanding that building a better tomorrow isn’t just about protecting natural resources, but includes protecting and supporting people.

At Corporate Event Interactive (CEI), we give back in many sustainable ways, but one of our primary goals is to help companies partner with local organizations through local Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) events. These events lift up the people in the community and support organizations that provide opportunities through educational and/or essential care packages. Our CSR events support the global efforts of the UN Sustainability Goals by bringing the focus into local communities, and making sure that nobody is forgotten.

Importance of Supporting Local Organizations

Every community is different, but the issues they face are very similar. Generally, they revolve around homelessness and poverty, health and well-being, and a quality education. These correlate to the first four Sustainable Development Goals laid out by the United Nations. Every region has its local organizations devoted to addressing these needs, but figuring out who to partner with can be daunting. 

1. CSR Event Addressing Homelessness/Poverty

One Team: Community Care Packages

Gather your team to help impact the community with One Team: Community Care Packages! Participants strategize the best way to tackle challenges in teams and earn essential supplies for care packages. This may be designed as a team building program or station activity. Previous kits have included everyday items for veterans, boxed lunches for food pantries, and relief supplies for those displaced by natural disasters.

2. CSR Event Supporting Health and Well-Being

One Team: Chemo Care Kits

Guests build relationships as they engage in a friendly competition and assemble items for Lemons of Love, a non-profit organization that provides support and community to people living with cancer. They ‘help cancer suck less’!

3. CSR Event Supporting Education

STEM Team Challenge

Bring your team together to make an impact with the STEM Team Challenge, an exciting high-tech team-building initiative designed to foster teamwork while making a positive impact on children’s education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Guests assemble kits that promote STEM learning. These kits are then donated to a local educational organization.

4. CSR Event Addressing the Climate Crisis

Green Team Challenge

Experience the thrill of The Green Team Challenge, where teams delve into exhilarating eco-challenges that go beyond the usual ‘Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle’ approach. Teams engage in a series of unique green-focused trivia and tasks right in the meeting room. They earn valuable points and bragging rights on the way to being crowned Champions of Sustainability.

5. CSR Event Giving Back to Several Initiatives

Crocs & Socks

Upon arrival, guests are presented with a vibrant croc or sock, and their task is to find their perfect match. Working in pairs, they collaboratively curate a care package that includes the crocs and socks, ready to be donated to one or more local organizations. You have the option to select from one, two, or all four types of care packages, ensuring a diverse and impactful contribution to the community.

Benefits of These CSR Initiatives

We’ve said before and we’ll say it again, Corporate Social Responsibility events boost company morale because employees enjoy the feeling of giving back. This feeling is compounded with the knowledge that their efforts are benefitting people within their own community. In return, the community also feels a stronger affinity towards the company. This improves the overall reputation of the company and boosts brand loyalty. It’s the best win-win out there, plus it has the support of the United Nations!

Conclusion

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by the United Nations emphasizes a holistic approach to sustainability that integrates the well-being of people with the protection of our planet. Corporate Event Interactive (CEI) aligns with this vision through its focus on facilitating impactful Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) events that address critical community needs. 

Partnering with local organizations and engaging companies in hands-on initiatives, CEI helps address homelessness, supports health and well-being, and fosters educational opportunities. These efforts not only benefit communities but also enhance employee morale and strengthen corporate reputation. In essence, CEI’s approach exemplifies how local actions can contribute to global sustainability goals, creating a tangible and positive impact for both people and the planet. Reach out today to start planning your own local CSR event.

Stay tuned to find out CEI can help your event have more of a global impact!

Building a Better World and an Even Better Business

In today’s competitive business landscape, corporate social responsibility (CSR) has emerged as a crucial piece of long-term success. CSR refers to a company’s commitment to manage its social, environmental, and economic effects responsibly and ethically. The practice not only fosters a positive impact on the world, but also brings numerous benefits to your company. Corporate Events Interactive understands the benefits of corporate social responsibility and its necessity for companies aiming to thrive in today’s world.

Enhanced Corporate Reputation and Brand Image

One primary benefit of CSR is the improvement of company reputation and brand image. When a company actively engages in socially responsible initiatives, it projects a positive image to the public. Consumers today are more informed and concerned about the ethical practices of the companies they support. As a result, they tend to favor brands that demonstrate a commitment to social, environmental, and global causes.

Hands-In Challenge

CEI’s Hands-In Challenge is an immersive team-building experience that fosters fun and camaraderie, all while creating a global impact.  Teams complete a series of challenges to earn prosthetic hand kits. Once assembled, the hands are quality checked by a team of experts before being sent around the world to amputees who cannot afford prosthetic devices. Enjoy the profound learning opportunities related to purpose-driven work and collaboration as your group builds a better team and a better world!

Strengthened Customer Relationships and Loyalty

CSR activities are instrumental in building trust and loyalty among consumers. When companies engage in responsible practices, they create a bond of trust with their customers, who feel good about supporting a brand that cares about the community and the environment.

Studies have shown that consumers are more likely to support brands that are socially responsible. For instance, a 2017 study by Cone Communications revealed that 87% of consumers would purchase a product because a company advocated for an issue they cared about, and 76% would refuse to buy from a company if they learned it supported an issue contrary to their beliefs.

Hour of Power (Solar Lights)

The Hour of Power is an immersive, hands-on solar light assembly program designed to raise awareness about energy poverty. Our skilled team helps participants work together to build solar-powered lights, which are then gifted to children living in energy poverty. This not only brightens their living conditions but also enhances their educational opportunities so they can read, cook, study, and more after dark! Check out the Solar Buddy video.

Improved Employee Engagement and Morale

CEI has seen our CSR activities make a profound impact on employee satisfaction and retention. Employees feel proud working for a company that is committed to making a positive difference in the world. This increased morale can lead to higher productivity and reduced turnover rates.

Clean Water Challenge

The Clean Water Challenge is an immersive team-building experience that fosters camaraderie while creating a global impact. Through a series of dynamic and interactive activities, teams learn about the mechanics of water filtration, gaining an appreciation for the vital role of clean water in sustaining life.

Teams actively assemble water filters, gaining firsthand knowledge of the global water crisis and how clean water transforms communities. These filters will be distributed in remote areas like refugee camps and regions affected by natural disasters. Each filter is designed to provide clean water for up to 12 people for an impressive duration of 10 years!

Conclusion

In conclusion, the benefits of corporate social responsibility (especially global CSR) are manifold, ranging from enhanced brand reputation and customer loyalty to improved employee engagement and morale. By integrating CSR into their core strategies, businesses can not only build a better world but also secure long-term success. CEI encourages companies to embrace CSR and leverage its benefits to create a sustainable and prosperous future for all. Find out more about how CEI can help you create a global impact while fostering more camaraderie by checking out all of our Sustainability Events.

Hi Everyone!

The trend toward sustainable events is gaining momentum as we roll into 2024! Reduce, reuse and recycle are familiar mantras, and companies are now getting more creative with sustainability being top of mind. This is the year we shout, “Go Green!”

There are some ways that are sweeping events in an attempt to green-ify the industry. It starts with selecting a venue that also has a focus on green initiatives. Then choosing a more central location to shorten everyone’s trip will cut down on transportation emissions (hint: Chicago is a very central location with a robust public transportation network). Also, choosing eco-friendly swag will encourage all attendees to continue their sustainability efforts long after the event’s over.

Our team at CEI embraces this initiative and is offering NEW team building activities that promote a greener lifestyle and actively give back to the planet and our global community. Check out some of our programs below that can be customized to your event. We look forward to making a greener, more sustainable 2024 with you!

Go Green!

Linda

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7 WAYS TO GREEN-IFY YOUR WORKPLACE

1. Invest in live office plants, not only do they add literal green, they also recycle all of the CO² in the building into fresh oxygen.
2. Promote the use of reusable water bottles and coffee/tea mugs.
3. Limit the need for printed materials, opting instead for document sharing platforms like Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive.
4. Turn off the lights and other non-essential equipment during off hours to conserve energy.
5. Support a hybrid working environment to cut down on the amount of travel your employees need to make into/out of the office.
6. Have fresh filtered water bottle fillers (not the old jugs). Bonus points: add a machine like Bevi to cut down on all those LaCroix cans.
7. Check out an organization like Circularly to find ways that you can be a part of a circular economy and promote better corporate sustainability.

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GO GREEN!

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Sustainability in Chicago

Chicago is a leader of innovative environmental initiatives, and sustainability is a key focus of its policies. Chicago is integrating sustainability in the places residents work, live, learn, and play while preparing for a resilient future.

Contact CEI today to see how we can craft a custom sustainable event for your team!