As a financial cooperative, Amplify Credit Union shares a guiding set of principles with other cooperatives around the world. These principles, which are core to our culture as an organization, encourage our team to actively participate in the long-term success of our local community. To that end, Amplify provides every new hire with Community Care Hours they can use to support the non-profits and schools of their choosing.
Key Takeaways:
- Amplify employees receive 20 (part-time) or 40 (full-time) community care hours per year.
- These hours can be used for any programs that are not strictly political or religious in nature.
What are Community Care Hours (CCH)?
At Amplify, we believe it is important for our team to play an active role in the health of our community. And with so many of our employees choosing to work remotely, we believe the best way to make a difference is to empower each employee to pursue the volunteer opportunities of their choosing. Therefore, each team members receives a separate bank of volunteer hours to use as they see fit. We call them Community Care Hours.
These hours are paid time off employees can use to volunteer during their workday (does not include drive time to an event). Part-time employees are given 20 hours per year, while full-time employees are given 40 hours. Employees also receive unpaid CCH hours to use outside the normal workday – such as on evenings and weekends – that will help Amplify recognize their contributions to the community.
In 2021, Amplify used a total of 1,357 hours across 36 organizations in Central Texas and beyond. That means that Amplify team members were responsible for nearly two months of volunteer time.
What organizations quality for CCH?
Projects and activities that qualify for Community Care Hours should be affiliated with a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, public charity, or a school district, and relate to one of the following categories:
- Education and Job Skills Training and Development
- Neighborhood Revitalization
- Youth Programs
- Health and Human Needs
- Civic Improvement
- Arts and Culture
Generally, programs that are strictly political or religious in nature, or programs that conflict with Amplify’s core values, will not be eligible for CCH consideration.
What are examples of approved CCH organizations?
Below is a partial list of organization who support Amplify volunteers in 2021. If you have additional questions about CCH organizations and eligibility, please talk to the Amplify recruiter or hiring manager during the application process.
Caritas of Austin
Caritas of Austin believe that when every person has a stable place to call home, they can realize their full potential and contribute to our community. Our innovative, proven approach to building wellbeing and ending homelessness creates a more vibrant Austin for all.
Keep Austin Fed
Keep Austin Fed’s volunteers rescue thousands of meals each month, feeding hundreds of our neighbors living with food insecurity, and putting a dent in the amount of food in the U.S. that ends up in a landfill and produces harmful methane gas.
Pioneer Farms
Pioneer Farms preserves and interprets the Lone Star State’s storied history and diverse cultures during the Nineteenth Century through an authentic, living-history experience. This experience features engaging programs, signature activities, and unique classes in the Texas folk arts school.
We Are Blood
We Are Blood has drawn Central Texans together since 1951 to provide and protect the community blood supply. By inspiring people to donate locally and to take pride in this precious shared resource, we’re making sure all Central Texans will continue to have access to life-saving blood when they need it.
Wonders and Worries
Wonders and Worries’ experts provide the foundation children and teenagers need to reach their full potential even though their parent is ill. Through individual and group therapy sessions, kids and teens learn about illness and build coping and communication skills. Our comprehensive programming is the only one of its kind in the US.