Monday, November 19, 2007

Time Warner Supports Education and the Arts



Time Warner focuses its community support on the arenas of education and the arts. The corporate office directly funds local and national organizations that nurture creativity and diversity in the arts. The company’s arts funding is centered in the areas of broadening public access to the arts, engaging undeserved youth with the arts, fostering diverse voices in the arts, and capital campaigns and corporate memberships. They also contribute funds to programs that are working to strengthen public schools in New York City, and close the college-opportunity gap so children from all areas and financial backgrounds will be given the necessary tools to further their education in college. Time Warner details its philanthropic support in the Community section of their website. You can take a look here: http://www.timewarner.com/corp/citizenship/community/index.html.

The divisions of Time Warner run their own programs that also follow the company’s focus on education and the arts. For example, the AOL Aspirations Fund awards grants of up to $10,000 each to middle schools and high schools that are dedicating themselves to providing their students with opportunities and helping them envision positive futures. Time Warner Cable recognizes creative K-12 teachers with its annual National Teacher Awards. Turner Broadcasting employees provide 10,000 hours of volunteer service to more than 40 nonprofit sites every year as part of Turner Volunteer Day. The company posts the totally number of financial contributions it has made here: http://www.timewarner.com/corp/citizenship/community/community_more/index.html.

This year, Time Warner established the Principals of Excellence Awards to honor principals of the New York City public schools. Time Warner selected five principals based on their quality of leadership and dedication to students. Each award includes a $20,000 grant for the school and a $5,000 honorarium that will go directly to the principal. Time Warner began these awards in order to honor the men and women who are vital to the improvement of our schools and raising the academic achievement levels of students from all backgrounds. You can read more about the Principals of Excellence awards here: http://www.timewarner.com/corp/citizenship/community/principals_awards/index.html.

Time Warner has chosen a single focus to support in the community in order to ensure their efforts connect to their values. Concentrating their resources on a single focus allows the company to make a greater difference in one area. Time Warner’s community relations program supports the mission of the company. Time Warner’s mission involves encouraging innovation and originality. The arts embody these qualities, therefore by supporting the growth of the arts Time Warner is helping innovation and originality to thrive. In addition, their philanthropic focus on public schools contributes to the success of their businesses in the future. The media industry relies on continuous new ideas for their success, which can only be made possible if younger generations are attending college and receiving the proper education to develop these ideas.

In addition to funding, Time Warner should hold more events to raise awareness for the need to support the arts and education. Due to the company’s widespread reputation, an event would attract the nation in addition to the local community. I think the company could increase the effect they have on the causes they support if they held more events because it would spread the importance of contributing to this cause. I also think holding events would show that the company is actively involved with the causes they support. Funding is a great way to contribute to the community, but an event will give people the impression that the company is taking their community relations efforts to another level.

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