3M’s Volunteer Program in the U.S. has been around for 50 years. Enhancing communities and making them better places is one of 3M’s core values.Last April 30-May 7, 2001, 3M Philippines launched Employee Relations Programs, part of the subsidiary’s continued efforts to build the 3M culture of excellence, support work and life balance, and boost employee pride.

One of the programs is Volunteerism.

Virlanie Foundation

The company is firmly committed to support, encourage, and recognize employee volunteers. The company is heavily involved with charity work at Virlanie Foundation, a private, nonsectarian child-caring institution duly licensed and accredited by the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Located in Makati, the Foundation currently operates 12 homes for over 300 Filipino children, some with histories of drug, sexual, and physical abuse, neglect, and abandonment.

3M supported one of the businesses of the Foundation by buying a year’s supply of greeting cards made by the children. Early this year, 3M Philippines managing director Sheila Nichols accompanied Debbie Miller, a US-based 3Mer to the orphanage together with other employees. Debbie took pictures which she brought back to the US, led a garage sale, and raised funds totaling $1,300. The amount was used to buy beds, linens, curtains, and other neccessities; Sheila Nichols donated a cooking stove; 3M Philippines employees made pillows out of 3M foams; and a supplier donated mattresses.

This early, a Christmas Drive has been initiated where employees can donate used clothings, toys, and food. The company has committed to buying a new Christmas tree and will also procure raw materials so the children can create Christmas decors. Last year, employees held a Christmas party complete with games, gift-giving, and the presence of mascots from a leading fastfood restaurant who entertained the orphans. This early, the children were profiled as to what they want most for Christmas, and 3M promises another fun-filled project for them.

September 11, 2001 Tragedy

Elsewhere around the world, 3M volunteerism continues. Employees volunteered to help at Ground Zero in New York City and raised funds amounting to $450,000. This was later matched by the company, which also donated 3M floor pads, hand pads, respirators, and other products. 3M Austin’s Telecom Access Product Division also provided 24-hour onsite technical support to technicians who worked around the clock to re-establish circuits needed for operation of the New York Stock Exchange at no charge.

Habitat for Humanity

The tired but happy faces of 3Mers

3M Philippines likewise did volunteer work in cooperation with Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit organization dedicated to eradicate homelessness and poverty housing by means of constructing simple, decent, and affordable housing with economically-disadvantage Filipinos.In March 2004, 3M volunteers joined US President Jimmy Carter and other volunteers in Maragondon, Cavite. This year, more than 50 employees enlisted to share their time, money, and skills to help eradicate poverty housing. The money raised was more than enough to sponsor the construction of one house, and the company joined World Leaders Build, an activity in conjunction with the Jimmy Carter Work Project. The site chosen by 3M was Springville in Muntinlupa, where the volunteers participated in a one-week construction blitz from August 5-1, 2001. The volunteerism project in Muntinlupa was so successful (the houses built exceeded the target number) that 3M promised to support future endeavors in the said municipality.

A Volunteer's Account

Ernest Panis, Manny Marquez and Ellen Presnedi take the lead during the first day of World Leaders Build

One could never be totally prepared for this event. That was the greatest lesson I learned at the end of my one-day volunteer work at Habitat for Humanity in Muntinlupa.In 2004, less than 20 volunteers from 3M set off to Maragondon, Cavite during Jimmy Carter's visit. World Leaders Build in 2001 saw more than (50) 3Mers enlisting. Also, the company is not just donating labor, but also funds-enough for one whole house! It was clearly a good year for volunteerism in 3M Philippines.August 9, Thursday 6:45 am at 3M Muntinlupa. There were originally 20 volunteers that day but 2 backed out at the last minute. After registering at the entrance at the site and receiving our H4H IDs, I set out distributing the stuff I prepared for the 3Mers. I had interviewed previous volunteers and knew of the gruelling work involved, so I thought I had a handle on things. All of them accepted the hand towels; several were too embarrassed to wear the wide-brimmed buri hats; a few pooh-poohed the sunblock; and nobody used the mosquito repellant lotion. Sigh. The day was not starting out as smoothly as I expected.A pastor was invited to say a morning prayer (H4H is an ecumenical organization, by the way). Dennis Jorolan, H4H Muntinlupa coordinator, thereafter welcomed all volunteers; he called on one employee from each company (among them Insular Life and Ayala Land) to give a short speech, and Andy Juan was the first. Later, he and Vez Arboleda (both veteran H4H builders), were briefed by the foreman for the day's activities.I started snapping photos all around, while the 3Mers were still recognizable (read: without dirt, mud, and cement on their faces and clothes). I noticed a little girl peering from the door and aimed my camera at her. She smiled shyly. An open, engaging smile. In my mind i was imagining her living in one of the houses which will be ready for occupancy in a week. The thought was very comforting.Rowie Espiritu, Rose Pizarro, Emilie Calica and Cherry Ibarrientos volunteered to clean, prep, and paint primer on the metal bars that were going to be used for the second floor. The rest of the 3Mers demonstrated teamwork by passing around pails of cement or hollow blocks. Initially, it was fun watching our colleagues do "dirty work". Rowan Rellosa looked more like a destitute laborer rather then a visuals sales executive clad in his oldest-and not to mention, badly torn-shirt. Jun Cansino could be mistaken for a farmer with a towel around his neck, his buri hat, and long-sleeved white plain shirt.Everybody was in high spirits. At one point a fast song blared from the radio in one of the nearby shacks, causing the 3Mers to sing with and sway to the music.Inasmuch as I wanted to get my own hands dirty, there were not just enough tools to help with. Finally, I found a available brush and started painting primer like mad on a long steel bar. Not a minute has passed when I noticed that everybody left their work and had dashed to the makeshift shelter. It had begun to rain. Somebody teased that God made it rain because I was finally working.At lunchtime, the 3Mers dragged all sort of dirt inside the Chowking outlet. Judging for the hearty meals eaten by each volunteer, everybody had earned their meals through real hard work. After lunch, the sun was at its most scorching state, and I had to sniff on ammonia from our medical kit for fear of fainting. Everyone feel lethargic. The workload seemed doubly harder. The requirement for water increased.At the end of the day, Dennis Jorolan told us that eight houses were constructed (instead of targeted five) due to the huge turnout of volunteers (fifty 3Mers were scheduled to build the following week).

I felt a surge of sadness for these 3Mers who were not able to undergo this unforgettable experience.