The Maximus Facilities team showed their commitment to social responsibility and community involvement by donating 150 care packages Phoenix Children’s Hospital during the annual Facilities Management Summit earlier this month.

The event, which was held at the Phoenix Contact Center Operations site, is located about 15 miles from the hospital and was chosen because of its positive role and award-winning services it provides to the community, according to Dan Chon, Senior Director of Facilities.

“It’s important for Maximus to provide support to local organizations as it helps the company build a positive reputation in the community, demonstrates a commitment to social responsibility, and gives back to the people who support their business,” he said, adding that the Facilities team donated toys, coloring books, puzzles, and activity kits to include in the care packages.

Outreach events can improve the quality of life for residents who benefit from Maximus services, Chon added. Maximus is committed to social responsibility and community involvement.

Amanda Learned, operations director with U.S. Health Services, said she was humbled to be involved in the outreach activity.

“Understanding these are children in the hospital makes you realize how much you have in your life and how grateful you are for your health,” she said. “From leadership down, we all care about each other and the beneficiaries we serve. As a Maximus employee, I feel valued and feel I add value.”

Chon agreed, adding that Maximus has allowed its employees to take pride in their roles to create a productive, safe, and secure work environment for our employees.

“The Facilities team resonates the most with Maximus’ value of respect,” he said. “We understand our mission to value the work we serve for our internal and external customers.”

He added that building a positive grassroots reputation helps create a positive image of the company in the community while providing mutual benefit and appreciation between the company and its clients. The collective success of the communities they serve drives the success of their business.

“Even for a global company like Maximus, grassroots outreach is important,” Chon said. “In addition to fostering a good reputation in the community, by demonstrating a commitment to social responsibility and community involvement, a global company can build a strong foundation of trust and respect in the areas of its operations.”

Ashley Sweet, Senior Specialist for Health and Safety, also helped with the event and agreed that outreach events build trust in the communities Maximus serves.

“Community outreach is important as it helps create value beyond the services that we provide,” she said. “I think it can also help with employee engagement and retention. I want to work for a company that is charitable and gives back to the community.”

Although Learned has worked in U.S. Services for 24 years, she works remotely in Connecticut and said this event was her first real interaction with her Facilities counterparts in Federal Services – a collaboration emphasizing one Maximus, she said.

“It was an amazing opportunity to work together on such a fantastic initiative,” she said. “I’m proud U.S. Services and Federal share the objective of helping people.”

Sweet, who also works remotely in New York, said she doesn’t get many opportunities to participate in group outreach events.

“When I heard we were assembling gifts for the Phoenix Children’s Hospital, I was so excited to be a part of it,” she said. “It was a great experience – something I hope to participate in more frequently, even outside of Maximus.”

The outreach project highlighted the importance of collaboration and teamwork, Chon explained.

“Even small contributions can have a great impact on the lives of those in need, and it highlighted the importance of regularly giving back to the communities in which we operate,” he said.