Barn raising awareness
Reproduced from:
Boston Business Journal
Philanthropy Files Column
November 28-December 4, 2008
By Mary Moore
Barn raising awareness
A nonprofit foundation launched in November will work to provide social service agancies with volunteers.
Started by JN Phillips Auto Glass in Woburn, the New Barn Foundation (www.newbarn.org) has a goal of contributing 2,500 volunteer hours. The company will allow each of its 300 employees to spend a full day a year of paid leave working on volunteer projects.
The name of the foundation comes from the early days when neighbors would gather to help rebuild a barn destroyed by fire.
"We've been a Massachusetts business for 60 years, we are in a service to begin with and we wanted to be of service to others," said Robert Rosenfield, whose grandfather started JN Phillips Auto Glass more than 60 years ago. "Our volunteer policy has started with eight hours per year of paid time. We think that's an important statement. If this goes really well, we hope to increase that."
Boston Cares, which leads team-oriented volunteer opportunities, will help JN Phillips Auto Glass manage and coordinate the New Barn Foundation's efforts, lining up volunteers with organizations that need them.
MARY MOORE covers philanthropy and the nonprofit sector. She can be reached at marymooore@bizjournals.com.