From construction chief, a plea for volunteerism

 

 

By Susan Salk

Suffolk Construction CEO John F. Fish urged fellow business leaders to put a little more thought into how they build ties with the community.

Rather than “write a check” or “buy a table at a rubber-chicken dinner,” for a charitable donation, the corporate world should stand shoulder-to-shoulder with nonprofit and charitable organizations, Fish said at Northeastern University’s most recent CEO Breakfast.

When crews from his 25-year-old construction firm decided to put hammer and nails where their mouths were, building Camp Harbor View on the Boston Harbor for inner-city kids with record-setting speed.

“The people involved in this project did so much more than write checks,” said Fish. “Some (crew members) camped out in tents on site so they could get the work done in 109 days.”

What grew out of their handiwork was a facility for inner-city kids providing three, square meals a day and outdoor activities they ordinarily would not have access to.

With gun violence claiming lives of Boston teens— “Even a Pop Warner coach was shot,” he noted — “we need to help make their lives better. We need to form partnerships.

Donations alone would not have brought the harbor camp to fruition, he said, adding, “Many of us in this room are part of a culture that writes checks because we want to help others. But we need to think differently. Philanthropy is not just a business opportunity.”

Fish estimates he devotes 20 percent of his time to philanthropic pursuits, which includes serving on numerous boards and industry posts trying to improve the lives of children and families through education.

He sits on the Strategic Planning Committee for the Archdiocese of Boston’s 2010 Initiative, which is focused on improving the area’s Catholic school system.

Additionally, he is a member of The Boys and Girls Club of Boston, and is trustee of Boston College and Tabor Academy. He co-chairs the annual “Play for the Future” fund-raising event for the Inner-City Scholarship Fund.

Nonprofit organizations could very much benefit from the expertise and guidance of a successful CEO, he said. Beyond financial contributions, a businessman or woman could help an organization with strategic planning and other enterprises they may lack expertise in.

Employees of all ranks could contribute their time and skill if the companies they worked for allowed them to dedicate a minimum amount of company time to helping others, he suggested. Fish proposed that each employee be allowed to carve out three hours a month to serve on a board, or volunteer during regular business hours.

“I used to attend those rubber-chicken charity dinners. I never even sat down. I used to leave before they really got started,” Fish said. “What we need to do is encourage real partnerships between businesses and nonprofits. That would help tremendously.”