Community

At The Standard, caring about people is a core value reflected in our commitment to the communities across the United States where our employees live and work. From donating millions of dollars annually to volunteering thousands of hours each year with schools, food banks and other organizations, The Standard and our employees make a real difference in the communities we call home.

2019 Employee Giving Campaign

A Commitment to Community

Celebrating Our Employees' Good Work

The Standard established the Leo Award program in honor of our founder, Leo Samuel. Each year, the company recognizes four employee volunteers — nominated by their peers and determined by popular vote — who exemplify Leo Samuel's community spirit. Winners receive a cash award for themselves and a donation to their nonprofit from The Standard. In 2018, we honored these four exceptional employee volunteers:

The Standard Charitable Foundation 2019 Grant Highlights

My Sisters’ Place
$10,000 was awarded to My Sisters’ Place, which provides shelter and other services for individuals and families fleeing domestic violence and human trafficking. The grant will fill gaps in shelter funding and enable the organization to continue to provide vital services for the most vulnerable families in Westchester County, New York.

New Avenues for Youth
$15,000 was awarded to New Avenues for Youth for the Youth Opportunity Center. Located in East Multnomah County, Oregon, the center provides drop-in services, education, job training and employment services, housing referrals and outreach to younger youth that are geographically isolated, unstably housed and connected to a school.

p:ear
$10,000 was awarded to p:ear, which builds positive relationships with homeless and transitional youth through education, art, recreation and employment. This grant supported staffing for the p:ear Works job training program that provides youth hands-on, paid internships as well as employment opportunities and assistance with career goals and placement for transitioning into independent living.

QUAD, Inc.
$15,000 was awarded to QUAD, Inc., which fosters personal independence by providing affordable, barrier-free housing for people with severe physical disabilities. The grant supported the purchase of a resident lift system benefitting adults with disabilities living at four QUAD apartment buildings.

Tualatin Hills Park Foundation
$15,000 was awarded to Tualatin Hills Park Foundation for the Access for All Collaborative Investment Initiative, which is a three-year program that aims to expand social and recreational opportunities for people with disabilities. The Initiative is designed to support the engagement of diverse disability organizations for children, youth and adults living in the Portland metro area.

The foundation’s giving is separate from the corporate giving of The Standard. Since 2007, The Standard Charitable Foundation, The Standard and its employees and retirees have contributed more than $35 million in grants and social investments.