Pasadena Children's Charity Wins Model Employer of the Year Award
Pasadena foster care children's charity, Hillsides, received the Pasadena Model Employer of the Year Award during the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce Inaugural Gala on July 18. Partnering for a decade on this award, the City of Pasadena and the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce presented the honors to two Pasadena employers for their outstanding dedication to providing family friendly benefits to their employees: Parsons Corporation in the large company category, and Hillsides as the small company/nonprofit.
"Both of these employers provide their employees with flextime, family sick leave and make provisions for employees to do occasional work at home in emergency situations, such as, illness of child or child's caregiver," said Mayor Bill Bogaard, who presented the awards to the recipients.
As a local children's charity, Hillsides creates safe places for foster care children and those who suffer from severe emotional disturbances, strengthens families in crisis in the San Gabriel Valley, provides special education to students in Los Angeles County; and advocates for children's rights.
Hillsides' senior management employees have over 283 years of collective service to their organization. When many organizations have cut back on their employee benefits, the charity has maintained full medical and dental coverage for their employees at no cost to the employee and contributes to dependent coverage.
In recognition of the stressful work of Hillsides, employees are given up to 27 days off a year in addition to eight paid holidays to use as vacation and/or personal business. Also included in the benefit package, at no cost to the employee, is life insurance, access to long term disability coverage, a tax deferred annuity program and a credit union.
With the life-changing work at Hillsides, times can sometimes be stressful on employees. Melvyn Washington, an employee with 24 years of service to the charity, has learned that humor is the key to balancing his job. "You need to learn the lighter side of things because it can be really stressful here."
When asked what is it about Hillsides that keeps him interested in his job, Washington simply said, "It's a family." For Washington, every day is also different. "You never know what's going to happen from one day to the next. I love that element of surprise and excitement."
In recognition for employee devotion, started in the days when Hillsides was an orphanage, anyone working for Hillsides is invited to have lunch in their dining room at no charge. Hillsides also stages two all-staff breakfasts a year to encourage a sense of team and socialization among their employees. At these breakfasts, Hillsides recognizes each employee on benchmark employment dates in a personal and meaningful way.
"As a nonprofit that creates safe places for children and families, we take pride in our reputation for demonstrating care and compassion to all members of our family," said John Hitchcock, Hillsides executive director. "We are truly honored to share this recognition and award with all of our employees."
To learn more about the foster care children's charity, visit www.Hillsides.org.