According to the company, in 2007, Erickson increased its corporate giving by donating a total of $1.2 million to nonprofit organizations across the United States, up from $1.1 million in 2006. Almost 50 percent of those donations were directed by Erickson employees – close to $60,000 of which was given in recognition of the time and money given to nonprofits. Erickson typically supports charities and initiatives associated with successful aging, expanding education across the lifespan and strengthening communities. Those receiving the most funding from Erickson in 2007 were:

• Alzheimer’s Association
• Caroline Center in Baltimore
• Catholic Charities
• The Kennedy Krieger Institute
• Teach for America
• The United Negro College Fund
• The University of Maryland Foundation
• World Vision

More than $60,000 was also donated to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore in 2007 in support of a new partnership between the two to establish the first-of-its-kind fellowship in geriatric medicine.

Despite U.S. economic woes, the company says it plans to increase corporate giving in 2008, and will also revamp its corporate social responsibility initiatives. “Erickson is going to be doing quite a bit in the corporate social responsibility arena in 2008,” Joe Harsel said in a statement. Harsel oversees the company’s corporate philanthropy initiatives. “We’re going to see an ever-increasing level of support for our employees’ charitable interests. Erickson employees can have both their donated time and financial gifts matched by a donation from Erickson, as well as use an allotment of paid hours for direct volunteer work.

“It has been a rich part of Erickson’s 20-year history to view our corporate citizenship efforts as a very intentional part of our mission to be the nation’s most trusted name in aging,” Harsel continues. “This theme resonates well with our current as well as future employees and residents. We believe that Erickson is in a truly unique position as a corporate citizen. Not only can we be a leader in charitable giving as directed by our 10,000-plus employees as they give back to the greater community, but we can also celebrate and encourage the volunteerism of our customers. Retirees are an incredible – and often undervalued – resource to the greater community, and the Erickson lifestyle really encourages people to go out there and get involved.”