WARWICK, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 25, 2024--
Across the nation, volunteering is in decline. In fact, 2024 saw the lowest rate of formal volunteering in nearly three decades, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and AmeriCorps. To appreciate individual volunteers at Corvias and fuel more volunteering across U.S. employers by sharing what works, Corvias Foundation announced its recognition of three team members at Corvias.
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Corvias Foundation recognizes Kim Beard, Nathan Roberts, and Amber Moser.
Julie Allen, the executive director of the Corvias Foundation, praised these volunteers saying, “Corvias Foundation recognizes these tremendous contributions. We selected Kim, Nathan, and Amber for recognition because they honor and embody Corvias’ core principle to generously give back to the communities where we live and work.”
Supportive Practices and Pitfalls of Employee Volunteer Programs:
One way Corvias is bucking the national trend of declining volunteerism is to seed the passion for volunteering by making space for it during the workday. A benefit called VTIME provides eight hours of paid time off for employees to use for the purpose of volunteering, annually, in ways that matter to them.
Researchers working with the United Way and Junior League found employee volunteering works well when employees perceive the volunteer experiences as meaningful and feel they can personally contribute in important ways. In contrast, employee volunteering programs often fail because of pitfalls such as mandatory participation in pet projects.
Allen noted, “Across the nation, U.S. workers often want to volunteer, and need corporate volunteering programs that share their values, respect their time, and add a sense of excitement. Corvias employees have tremendous heart – and they also have VTIME to start them on a path of volunteering that leads folks like Kim, Nathan, and Amber to support the causes they love.”
The number one reason people volunteer is because they are asked. The benefits of a company doing the asking – and taking the time to get the ask right – are many. In addition to supporting the communities they serve, studies show volunteer programs boost employee productivity, engagement, hiring, and retention. They become better “citizens at work,” helping coworkers and voicing ideas. And, they experience greater physical and mental well-being and sense of purpose themselves.
Allen underscored the importance of dedicated employees, adding, “Amber, Kim and Nathan are wonderful examples of why we can do such great work in the communities we serve – both for Corvias Foundation as a philanthropy supporting the educational dreams of military-connected students and for Corvias who creates quality living environments as the foundation to building strong communities for these families.”
About Corvias
Corvias partners with the Department of Defense and higher education institutions to solve infrastructure and energy resiliency challenges and to create long-term, sustainable value through our unique Solutions Through Partnerships® approach. Corvias partnerships enhance the well-being in our communities, including at the largest renewable energy project in Kansas and at resiliency projects nationwide. Our more than 72,000 residents consistently highly rank the courtesy and professionalism of our maintenance and leasing personnel. To learn more, please visit: www.corvias.com.
About Corvias Foundation
Corvias Foundation creates educational opportunities for military families. Founded in 2006, we work to increase access to educational opportunities so that our scholars are empowered to pursue their dreams and make a greater impact in service to their communities. We have awarded more than $15 million in scholarships and grants to military-connected students and military spouses to support their education. More than 450 students and military spouses have received a Corvias Foundation scholarship, ranging from $5,000 up to $50,000.
After helping to set up, register players, and prepare for the Geary Community Healthcare Foundation’s annual Fall Classic Golf Tournament, volunteer Nathan Roberts squeezed in a round of golf with the afternoon group. (Photo: Business Wire)
Kimberly Beard, a permitted wildlife rehabilitator, is currently volunteering her time to care for six raccoons, six squirrels and a baby deer. The end goal is to successfully release each animal back into the wild. (Photo: Business Wire)
Corvias Operations Director Amber Moser volunteers as a stage director at the annual Oklahoma State Future Farmers of America convention. (Photo: Business Wire)
A bankruptcy judge is set to hear arguments Monday in conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' effort to stop the satirical news outlet The Onion from buying Infowars and turning it into a parody.
Jones alleges fraud and collusion marred the bankruptcy auction in which The Onion was named the winning bidder on Nov. 14 over a company affiliated with him.
It's not clear how soon U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez in Houston will issue a ruling. He could allow The Onion to move forward with its purchase, order a new auction or name the other bidder as the winner. At stake is whether Jones gets to stay at Infowars’ studio in Austin, Texas, under a new owner friendly to him, or whether he gets kicked out by The Onion.
The other bidder, First United American Companies, runs a website in Jones’ name that sells nutritional supplements.
Regardless, Jones has set up a new studio, websites and social media accounts that would allow him to keep airing his show. And his personal account with 3.3 million followers on the social platform X was not part of the sale, although Lopez will be deciding whether it should be included in the liquidation and sold off later.
Jones' bankruptcy and the liquidation of his assets came about after he was ordered to pay nearly $1.5 billion to relatives of victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. Jones was found liable for defamation and emotional distress damages in lawsuits in Connecticut and Texas for repeatedly calling the 2012 shooting that killed 20 first graders and six educators a hoax staged by actors to increase gun control.
Proceeds from the liquidation are to go to Jones' creditors, including the Sandy Hook families who sued him.
Jones alleges The Onion’s bid was the result of fraud and collusion involving many of those families, the humor site and a court-appointed trustee who is overseeing the liquidation.
First United American Companies submitted a $3.5 million sealed bid, while The Onion offered $1.75 million in cash. But The Onion's bid also included a pledge by Sandy Hook families to forgo some or all of the auction proceeds due to them to give other creditors a total of $100,000 more than they would receive under other bids.
The trustee, Christopher Murray, said that made The Onion's proposal better for creditors and he named it the winning bid. He has denied any wrongdoing.
Jones and First United American Companies claimed that the bid violated Lopez’s rules for the auction by including multiple entities and lacking a valid dollar amount. Jones also alleged Murray improperly canceled an expected round of live bidding and only selected from among the sealed bids that were submitted.
Jones called the auction “rigged” and a “fraud” on his show, which airs on the Infowars website, radio stations and Jones' X account. He filed a counter lawsuit last week against Murray, The Onion's parent company and the Sandy Hook families in the bankruptcy court.
In a court filing on Sunday, Murray called the allegations a “desperate attempt” to delay the sale of Infowars to The Onion and accused Jones, his lawyers and attorneys for First United American Companies of a “vicious smear campaign lobbing patently false accusations.” He also alleges Jones collaborated with First United American Companies to try to buy Infowars.
Lopez’s September order on the auction procedures made a live bidding round optional. And it gave broad authority to Murray to conduct the sale, including the power to reject any bid, no matter how high, that was “contrary to the best interests” of Jones, his company and their creditors.
But at a Nov. 14 hearing Lopez said he was concerned about the process and transparency.
“We’re all going to an evidentiary hearing and I’m going to figure out exactly what happened,” he said. “No one should feel comfortable with the results of this auction.”
The assets of Infowars' parent company, Free Speech Systems, that were up for sale included the Austin studio, Infowars' video archive, video production equipment, product trademarks, and Infowars' websites and social media accounts.
Jones is appealing the $1.5 billion in judgments citing free speech rights, but has acknowledged that the school shooting happened.
Jones has brought in millions of dollars a year in revenue by hawking nutritional supplements, clothing, survival gear and other merchandise, including more than $22 million this year through Sept. 30 from his Infowars Store website, according to court documents.
Many of Jones’ personal assets, including real estate, guns and other personal belongings, also are being sold as part of the bankruptcy.
Documents filed in court this year say Jones has about $9 million in personal assets, while Free Speech Systems has about $6 million in cash and more than $1 million worth of inventory.
A copy of the satirical outlet The Onion is seen Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Little Rock, Ark. (AP Photo/Jill Bleed)
FILE - Right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones speaks to the media after arriving at the federal courthouse for a hearing in front of a bankruptcy judge, Friday, June 14, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)
