When Maximus acquired GDIT in November 2018, our Consumer Contact Center (CCO) in Lynn Haven, Florida, already had a robust employee engagement and community outreach program led by an amazing group of compassionate and dedicated employees.
Giving back where we live and work was an honor. I saw many local organizations we supported help out our own team members in times of need, including providing a safe place for women and donating backpacks for school-aged children. There is no better feeling than coming together with a shared commitment to make a difference in the lives of others.
The acquisition coincided with our hometown being devastated by Hurricane Michael. Many of our employees lost everything. Despite the despair many of us felt, our spirit of coming together and rebuilding was never broken. We rolled up our sleeves and went to work, rebuilding our homes, lives, and CCO site; one hour, one day at a time. The outreach and support we received from colleagues, the community, and others was remarkable. To be on the receiving end was a truly humbling experience. The Maximus Foundation was instrumental during our recovery efforts, so it was a natural step for me to become an Ambassador and a donor.
My personal and professional goals included expanding my impact on helping others beyond the CCO program. When I transitioned to the Home Office in late 2019, my new HR Communication and Change Management position allowed me to work even more closely with the Foundation. I have been able to partner with the organization on many projects, including campaigns, reports, articles, and employee spotlights, to raise awareness and highlight the incredible work our employee-led Foundation accomplishes with our grantee partners. Now, as a member of the Corporate Communications team, we support our nonprofit grantee partners through the “Communications for Good” initiative by offering our expertise to help expand the communications toolkit for Foundation partners.
My personal values align with the Foundation’s mission. The more I became involved over the years, the more committed I became. I know our work makes a difference.