April 7 kicked off the start of National Volunteer Week, which “celebrates the impact of volunteer service and the power of volunteers to tackle society’s greatest challenges, to build stronger communities and be a force that transforms the world,” according to PointsofLight.org. Here at PAN, we wanted to take this as an opportunity to shine a light on the volunteer opportunities our employees take part in throughout the year – both on their own, and with their colleagues as part of our PANcares philanthropy program.

Giving back is in our blood here at PAN, and it starts at the top. And while giving back can mean a lot of things, and help many different causes, the main thing we remember is that no act is too small. Every volunteer has the opportunity to make a real difference. Whether it’s helping out a local animal shelter, volunteering with the homeless or spending time with the elderly – volunteering is a critically important part of our society. While monetary donations for worthy causes are an integral part of tackling societal problems, and we applaud those who can and do help in that way, volunteering is unique in that it humanizes the experience in a much more powerful way. For me personally, it’s humbling. It’s a reminder of how grateful I am for all that I have, and of how much I can do to help others in less fortunate circumstances. Volunteering takes us out of the mundane stresses of our daily lives and helps us become part of a solution.

At PAN, we strongly encourage our employees to volunteer for causes that are near and dear to their hearts. As part of all full-time employee benefit packages, PAN offers eight hours of paid volunteer time each year. We also create opportunities for them to volunteer with colleagues for the cause of youth homelessness. In Orlando, the team frequently visits Covenant House Florida to do activities such as resume and interview workshops with youths experiencing homelessness. In Boston, we’ve come together to build beds for children living in severe poverty as part of A Bed for Every Child. This coming May, we’ll also get together to join the Project Bread Walk for Hunger to raise awareness and funds to combat food insecurity. The NYC team will also join Covenant House New York for a career workshop this month, and our San Francisco colleagues have joined Covenant House California for numerous crafts and activities with homeless youths in the Bay Area. This is all part of our PANcares program, which partners with organizations to provide pro-bono PR support, and also creates opportunities for employees to get involved through volunteering.

To celebrate National Volunteer Week, we’ll be shining a light on various employees who dedicate time to volunteering in the community. Follow along on our social channels throughout the week as we share their experiences. Let us know @PANcomm how you give back to the community, and what volunteering means to you!