An Example of a Corporate Donor to IMA:

CNG/Dominion Resources Once Again Supports
Mentoring in a Big Way

By Maurice A. Davis

Originally published in the IMA "Mentor Connections" Newsletter, Summer 2000

INDEX:

• The Donation and the Source
• Why Did CNG/DR Donate to the IMA?
• A Challenge That YOU Should Accept

The Donation and the Source

Stephan Davis, IMA Member and Director of Organizational Development at Consolidated Natural Gas/Dominion Resources (CNG/DR), presented the IMA with a check for $5,000 at the 13th Annual Diversity in Mentoring Conference luncheon, Friday March 31, 2000. The donation was funded by the CNG/DR corporate foundation as part of their annual giving program.

Why would such a corporation want to share some of its resources with the International Mentoring Association?

The reason is that the IMA and CNG/DR have had a long-term, positive relationship which CNG/DR executives value and from which their corporate employee development initiative has directly benefited.

CNG originally sought help from the IMA to develop an effective corporate mentoring program when CNG was a separate entity. After merging with Dominion Resources of Virginia, the mentor program's effectiveness led to it being adopted by the new organization. Throughout these changes, the IMA was seen as a valuable resource in the mentoring program's development, implementation, evaluation and improvement.

Davis, who served on the Senior Diversity Counsel at CNG/Dominion Resources, notes many proactive changes that have benefited employees and corporate initiatives as a result of their mentoring program and continued involvement with IMA. He added that the future looks bright for mentoring at CNG/Dominion Resources. No wonder CNG/Dominion Resources has again demonstrated its appreciation to the IMA with this very generous donation, the second one in as many years! IMA has been a significant strategic partner for CNG/DR employee success.

The IMA would like to thank the CNG/DR corporation for its continued, strong support.

A Challenge That YOU Should Accept

Mr. Davis issued the same challenge at the 13th Annual Conference that he did after donating to IMA the previous year. He encouraged the corporate representatives, who were IMA members or potential members, to approach their corporate foundations on behalf of the IMA for a donation equal to or greater than that which CNG/Dominion Resources had contributed. He stated that such donations are a good business decision that would aid in both corporate development and community outreach.

If YOU work in a corporation or for a foundation, seriously consider Mr. Davis' challenge. Compare your mission and vision to the mission of the IMA and you will discover significant overlap. That means that supporting and participating in the IMA as a donor and as strategic partners can serve the interests of both parties.

The IMA has been a catalyst for positive development for many organizations throughout the world. Join your business colleagues at CNG/Dominion Resources and make a donation today. Contact the IMA President now.

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