Guest Viewpoint: Especially in hard times, nonprofits need our help

The Press & Sun-Bulletin featured a recent editorial.

There isn't much that is certain in life, aside from death and taxes, of course. We have all experienced, in any number of ways, the effects of rampant uncertainty and financial hardship. But through all of the turbulence, one thing has remained constant: We need our local nonprofits.

Every day, thousands of people in the Southern Tier rely on its stable of local charity and support groups to eat, sleep, care for their children, or come back from what often initially seems like insurmountable odds. Every time, the good will and caring heart of a volunteer or case worker reinforces the ability of so many to do so much in spite of what may lie ahead.

I may be in Raleigh, N.C., but my heart belongs to the Southern Tier, where the community certainly has faced its share of disaster. This year's flood was far beyond any reasonable comprehension. Down here in Raleigh, a tornado ripped through the area with a devastating blow the likes of which this fairly new North Carolinian had never seen. What shined above all else, though, was the overwhelming support of those in our community. The food banks, the disaster recovery groups, the unsolicited support of an otherwise unknown person or resource — all of these things encompassed the system that allowed us to rebuild.

None of this would have been possible were it not for the nonprofits we have in our respective communities. They are the unsung heroes amidst an often dreary façade of unceasing need and uncertainty. Now is the time that we should return the favor, not just as individuals, but as businesses.

Like all businesses, our success is predicated upon the success of our economy and its people. So it is only fitting that we fervently support our community through the multitude of opportunities for us to donate our time, talent and treasure. We follow the example of so many of our colleagues who do the same.

Large or small, local businesses provide the resources that nonprofits require to help those in need. It is a cycle that not only represents the right thing to do, but breeds an air of consciousness into the lungs of a business's employee base. Leadership comes from experience, and there's no experience quite like giving to others and advancing a good cause.

In that spirit, our organization, like many others, is rolling out an office initiative focused on philanthropy. We will be working as a team on local projects meant to further the causes we hold dear, whether it's volunteering at a soup kitchen or organizing a fundraising contest within our respective walls. No matter what we do, it will be because we aim to make our relatively small contribution as meaningful as possible.

Whether you're a business owner or simply a potential volunteer, join us by recommitting yourself to helping those among us who need it the most. For all kinds of good reasons, now is the time.

Fitzsimmons, born and raised in the Southern Tier, is the chief operating officer of The Sorin Group in Raleigh, N.C.