Volunteering with GE

Are New Year’s Resolutions on your mind?  What will it be this year: work out?  Get in shape?  Lose 10 pounds?  Eat healthier?  It’s great to think about what you can do to improve your own lifestyle, but what about goals focused on those around you?  Add volunteering to that short list of goals for 2012!  Giving back to the community and to those less fortunate should always be at the front of our minds.  Volunteering, community service, and giving back is a pillar of the GE culture across all businesses.  Whether it’s a small activity with just a few ITLPs, a large event with GE Volunteers, or simply something you took the initiative to do on your own, getting involved in the community is supported by team members and managers alike.  It’s estimated that 100,000 GE employees volunteer annually, contributing to one million hours every year.  GE employees and retirees can participate with strategic volunteering partners or GE-wide initiatives.  Regardless of your interests and passions, GE fosters volunteer opportunities in education, healthcare, the environment, and community development.

© Getty ImagesAt GE Healthcare in Milwaukee, I have found an organization called STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) that goes into the classrooms and helps students in those focal areas.  Assisting students on their projects and getting them excited about these disciplines is a fun way to leverage a skill I have and get involved with a passion of mine.  I always enjoy going back to the school, visiting the kids, and seeing what is on their minds for that week.  Additionally, we also try to discuss how studying and working hard now can help them with a career later.  Sharing personal experiences and informing them of their options motivates them to look beyond today and think about long-term goals.  Serving as a resource to these students – whether as a tutor or a mentor – is entirely rewarding.  Add ‘volunteering’ to your 2012 New Year’s Resolution, take an hour or so out of your weeks, and make an impact in your community!