GIVING I N A C T I O N businesses giving back
A local credit union goes further to encourage employee volunteering.
Paul Trylko, CEO of Amplify Credit Union, seems perplexed when asked if it’s true that Amplify really offers employees 40 hours of paid time to volunteer. “We’re a not-for-profit financial cooperative,” says Trylko, “so we’ve always been focused on giving back to the community we live in and work with.” Yes, but 40 hours— a full week—is very generous. Do any of the employees take Amplify up on that?
volunteer, but when you work 40 hours, you have a family, you’re busy, it can make all the difference in the world to be able to volunteer during the work day.” In addition to the award, each of Amplify’s honorees also received $500 to put toward the charity of their choice. Trylko says the credit union, with 180 employees in 5 counties, may be unique in the region in offering such a generous employee volunteer program. But he hopes Amplify is part of a trend to encourage employee giving. “It make you consider that we’re part of something bigger than just one financial institution,” says Trylko, “that we’re part of the greater community as a whole.” While the program certainly creates a community-minded atmosphere at the credit union, does it actually affect the bottom line? “I think it helps people feel satisfied about their work,” says Trylko. “It probably affects our bottom line indirectly.” McCoy for one seems enamored of the program. “I’ve been at Amplify for 12 years,” says McCoy, “and I plan to retire from here.” Summer 2012 11
n o w
McCoy receiving one of three volunteer awards. “This is a city that encourages people to volunteer, and seeing that when I moved here made me want to do that more.”
In fact, they do. In 2011, 46 employees took advantage of the paid leave to volunteer and three Amplify employees— Terry McCoy, Kris Smith and Kyle Cottington– used the entire 40 hours. Amplify recognized these three employees with a “Humanitarian Award” this past April. McCoy, a training coordinator at Amplify, served as project manager for renovations done to the home of the Jackson family, who were one of the families Amplify adopted as part of the Austin AmericanStatesman’s “Season of Caring” campaign. McCoy laughs when he remembers the project. “I honestly didn’t know what I was getting into,” he says. Though McCoy renovates and flips homes on the side, he says, “It was amazing to help someone who really needed it, and make a difference in t he community.” As a volunteer, McCoy also collects and sorts food at Capital Area Food Bank and recently become certified with Foundation Communities to assist its clients with financial counseling. “What Amplify does is great,” says McCoy. “It’s really easy to say they want employees to
happ e ning
when service counts