What’s your 1% Story?

1% is beautiful in its simplicity. It’s a simple model, with a high bar for giving and consequently, a profound impact. Beautiful and bold is 1%!

But really – numbers are just numbers, and at the end of the day the fun part that really sheds light on the power of the movement are the stories behind it all. Each company gives 1% to nonprofit partners of their choice, but who are those organizations, and what are they working on?

Here’s a story from a longstanding member company, CaliBamboo:

CaliBamboo is a leading 1% member company that exists to provide sustainable building supplies for both residential and commercial homes. They do so by using bamboo, which is one of the world’s most durable, sustainable and renewable materials. In addition to building their business around a better alternative for building materials, CaliBamboo donates one percent of net revenue annually to The Surfrider Foundation.

This month CaliBamboo is undertaking in a fun project with The Surfrider Foundation–together they’re promoting The National Greenscape Challenge. By challenging contestants to design the most sustainable garden they can, this project educates contestants and followers about the common mistakes in landscaping, and the consequent perils of urban runoff. The National Greenscape Challenge raises awareness among a larger audience and culminates with a large influx of inspiring project solutions (not to mention that the winner gets to enjoy a weekend of surfing in sunny Southern California!).

This is but one story of thousands out there. What’s yours? Spread the word, share the good stories and keep us inspired. Email me at brittany@onepercentfortheplanet.org and tell (or show!) us how you’re a living model of corporate philanthropy in action!