GAI Chairman & CEO Gary DeJidas, PE, MBA discusses how our employees’ inspiring giving instinct will support the global mission of Direct Relief, GAI’s 2019 corporate charity of choice. GAI will match all employee donations to this highly-rated aid organization dollar-for-dollar.
Building on Our Employees’ Giving Spirit
Charitable giving and volunteering are ingrained in the GAI employee spirit. Last year we celebrated GAI’s 60th year in business through our ’60 for 60′ charitable campaign, which saw outstanding participation across the company with 85 percent of GAI offices completing 65 charitable activities to benefit 47 different organizations. This year, we are bringing together our employees’ amazing helping instincts in support of an organization called Direct Relief.
Direct Relief: A High-Impact Way to Help
Each year, GAI designates a corporate charity of choice through our ‘iGaive’ charitable-giving program. Our 2019 search for an organization that could make a truly profound impact led us to Direct Relief, a nonprofit global aid organization that rushes medication and medical supplies to people affected by natural disasters and other emergency situations. Direct Relief has earned a four-star, perfect 100 rating from Charity Navigator, and channels more than 90 percent of the donations it receives to people around the world who are in real need.
Seven Decades of Worldwide Support
Now, you may not have heard of Direct Relief, but it’s been doing work on a global scale since 1948. The reason that you may not know about the organization is perhaps attributable to Direct Relief’s practice of keeping its administrative and promotion expenses very low while delivering the greatest positive effect possible for each contributor dollar that they receive.
Extending a Long-Lived Commitment to Giving Back
At GAI, we are committed to supporting the communities where we live, work, and play—and that commitment extends to the larger global community through the targeted aid activities of Direct Relief. In that spirit, GAI will match all employee donations to Direct Relief dollar-for-dollar up to a total $25,000 company match to help further the organization’s global aid mission.
Get to know Direct Relief—if you’re like us, you’ll discover an incomparable way to make your giving spirit felt around the world.
Watch Us GROW our Giving Goals!
We’ll document and share our employees’ giving activities through GAI’s Facebook, Flickr, and Twitter feeds—including Direct Relief fundraisers as well as team or individual efforts to donate time, goods, or funds to local organizations. Be sure to check in as we celebrate our employees’ good work, acknowledge their accomplishments, and inspire others to take part!
For more information about GAI’s corporate giving, contact Sr. HR Manager Peg Brenner, SPHR, SHRM-CP, 321.319.3083, chairperson of GAI’s iGaive philanthropic program.
GAI Chairman and CEO Gary M. DeJidas, PE, MBA began his career with GAI as a civil engineer in the Pittsburgh office in 1972. Gary was elected Chairman of the company’s Board of Directors and President/CEO of GAI in 2003; Gary transitioned to CEO and Chairman in 2017 as part of the company’s succession planning process.
