McMurry Charities Wins Business Volunteer Program of the Year

NOVEMBER 10, 2010

Phoenix—As a result of the activities through its charitable arms, McMurry Charities and Theresa's Fund, McMurry received the "Business Volunteer Program of the Year" honor at the 2010 Volunteerism – Heart of Business Awards on Nov. 9 at Phoenix Art Museum. Presented by the Phoenix Business Journal and HandsOn Greater Phoenix, the Volunteerism – Heart of Business Awards shine a spotlight on companies making a difference in the Phoenix community.

"There are two truly amazing aspects to this story," explains Chris McMurry, CEO. "First is that we didn't task our staff with the idea of giving their time and money. They just did as they always do … they took an idea and ran with it in way that is standard-setting."

The second, he says, is that the company and its staff actually increased their giving in the worst recession since the Great Depression and when nonprofits everywhere reported a shortage of philanthropy. In 2007, the company and staff set a goal of giving $1,000,000 in cash before the end of 2011. It's on course to exceed that, giving $1,300,000, which, when averaged among the company's 170 staff members, represents an amazing $7,647 in cash gifts per person.

But money isn't the only giving that gets done. During its current fiscal year, McMurry has organized volunteer events and donation drives that benefited causes and nonprofits such as a group of lower-income families in Phoenix, Kitchen on the Street, St. Mary's Food Bank, Phoenix Children's Hospital, Make-a-Wish Foundation, HandsOn Greater Phoenix, Singleton Moms, March of Dimes, UMOM New Day Centers, HomeBase Youth Services, Brain Injury Association of Arizona, Habitat for Humanity, Keep Phoenix Beautiful, Emerge! Center Against Domestic Abuse, and Red Cross Haiti Relief Efforts.

This is the second straight year McMurry has been honored at the Volunteerism – Heart of Business Awards. In 2009, it won the category of "Most Outstanding Partnership" for its work supporting and helping to create UMOM New Day Centers' $18 million capital campaign, and it was named a finalist in the category of "Most Outstanding Company Project for a Midsize Business."