National Volunteer Week: Empowering service and giving back 

Engaging Cambia employees in a spirit of giving back through volunteerism

April 19, 2023

A key element of our commitment to the communities we serve is empowering Cambia employees to give back through volunteerism. Providing financial support to nonprofit organizations is vital to supporting their work, and many organizations can also benefit from volunteers who leverage their professional skills to advance their missions. Below is a short overview of some ways we help employees make a bigger impact in support of the causes that mean most to them.
 

Connecting employees with nonprofit boards 

Throughout the year, Cambia Health Foundation offers a board placement matching program for Cambia employees at the director level and above who are interested in volunteering on the board of a local organization. Based on the employee’s interests and skills, they are introduced to a community organization seeking to fill a board opening. In addition to helping employees identify nonprofits for volunteer board service, the Foundation donates funds to support general operations in recognition of board service and support.  

 

Kristen Erbes, Cambia’s vice president and chief compliance and privacy officer, currently serves as a board member with Meals on Wheels People in Oregon. “As I watched family members and friends age, I understood how important nutritious food, human connection and social support are to being able to live independently,” said Erbes. “I discovered Meals on Wheels because Cambia asked me about my areas of interest and suggested organizations that might be a good fit. I chose to serve on the Meals on Wheels People board because of their mission and innovative programming. In addition to helping me identify this opportunity, Cambia has supported me through community leadership funds, and they offer a year-round 50% match for personal donations I make to the organization.”

Levi Smith, director of IT infrastructure at Cambia, currently serves as a board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters Utah. “After we adopted our daughter Zoey, I wanted to find a way to give back and help children in some way,” said Smith. “Big Brothers Big Sisters provides mentors for at-risk youth in our community and that really attracted me to their organization. When I first became a director at Cambia, I learned about the board placement program, and they have been so supportive. In addition to providing critical funds for eligible board service, they’ve also helped me rally other employees to support various efforts for Big Brothers Big Sisters. I started serving on their board about 5 years ago and it’s been a great fit.” 

Currently, Cambia has over 100 employees serving on boards within their local communities.  
 

Dollars for Doers  

In 2022, the Foundation launched a volunteer rewards program, Dollars for Doers, which incentivizes Cambia employees to volunteer their time and skills for the benefit of nonprofits. When Cambia employees log volunteer time, the Foundation directs $20 per hour to the cause(s) of their choice. Last year, 462 employees participated in the inaugural Dollars for Doers program, resulting in $78,632 dollars earned and donated by volunteering their time to local nonprofit organizations. We’re proud of Cambia employees who step up in the ways they feel most compelled, and we’re honored to support the causes they care about in giving back to their local communities.