At Diplomatic Language Services, we pride ourselves on being a mission-driven company. A key pillar of our mission is to make a difference by contributing to causes about which our employees and customers care. Our new DLS Corporate Social Responsibility Plan helps us to impact society through economic donations, social contributions, and environmental consciousness. Take a look at how we gave back in 2021 and how we plan to increase our corporate social responsibility in 2022!
2021 Highlights
We prioritized volunteering time and donating money to organizations that are close to our community. Two charities we give to annually are the National MS Society and the Fisher House Foundation. We also donated to the Hunger Coalition, which was selected by our dedicated employees. This organization seeks to build healthy communities through access to good food and addresses the root causes of food insecurity in collaboration with key partners.
We have always prioritized participation in community events and hosting fundraisers for important causes. So, a great way for everyone to participate is company-driven events. Every year, we participate in our Adopt-a-Highway cleanup, during which employees pick up several bags of trash along our dedicated portion of Route 50. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing pandemic, we could not host our usual in-person fundraising activities in 2021. Our annual Susan G. Komen Bake Sale and MS-150 Soup and Bread Sale were essential to the DLS culture and we look forward to hosting them when it is safe to do so!
How DLS is Giving Back in 2022
In 2022, we have developed an event plan that allows DLS employees to champion different philanthropy events. We have 15 volunteer opportunities on our calendar with various themes. At the end of 2021, our staff voted on themes for giving back that we are eager to focus on in 2022, such as racial justice, cultural equity, and food insecurity. We proudly provide financial support to many organizations which our community cares such as Fisher House, Susan G. Komen, MS150, and Doctors Without Borders. Also, we encourage employees to use the DLS Giving Match program, in which we match their donations.
Environmental Impact
In 2019, we made significant changes to how we impact the Earth. Upon starting training, we offer each new student a reusable DLS water bottle. This saves an estimated 9,618 plastic cups from being used each year! Additionally, we use only biodegradable corn-made utensils. All paper towels, napkins, plates, and bowls are made from 100% recycled content, Green Seal Certified, and compostable. Each kitchen in every DLS location is complete with clean mugs and cups to eliminate single-use cups. Finally, we moved all paper timesheets online, saving over 30,000 sheets of paper each year.
We make the world better when we understand each other and when we make a difference. Corporate social responsibility is just one way we encourage the practice of understanding and compassion. For more information about DLS’s commitment to community service and volunteer opportunities, please contact our Human Resources Department at hr@dlsdc.com.
