Connect First is already a force to be reckoned with in the world of SaaS software, in addition to its reputation in cloud contact center software. But now, it’s looking to expand into another area, teaming up with a group of other companies to bring added value to people’s lives in a whole new way. Specifically, Connect First is joining forces with others to help address housing issues.
Specifically, —through its Connect First Foundation—is partnering with the World Racing League (WRL) to provide fellow partner Flatirons Habitat for Humanity not only with more resources to work with, but also with on-the-ground assistance in getting more people back into homes in the area. Flatirons Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Susan Lythgoe provided a bit more background on how the three groups came together.
She said, “It is so important for the work of nonprofits such as Flatirons Habitat for Humanity to receive such tremendous support from our business community. When we have the opportunity to extend that support and message to a broader audience through the World Racing League, it has an even greater impact. It was so exciting to spend time with the Connect First team at the endurance race, share our mutual passion for events like that, and help improve our community. Many thanks to Connect First for making that connection possible.”
This isn’t the first time the Connect First Foundation has been involved, however, as it has reportedly participated in events such as the “Tour de Cure” and the Susan G. Komen “Race for the Cure.” This demonstrates just how deeply Connect First is committed not only to providing a quality product in the SaaS sector, but also to helping others in times of need. As Connect First COO Dan Candee explained, “So many of our neighbors and members of our community were devastated by the flood and are still in the midst of a major recovery effort. Habitat is facilitating many rebuilding projects along the Front Range, and we want to do everything we can to support that mission.”
Engaging in charitable work is a great thing for a company to do. It not only fosters a deeper connection between the community and the business that serves the community with its products and services, but it also creates a sort of halo effect for the company’s other ventures, providing a margin of error should something go wrong. Apologies from a company for a defective product or an accident involving hazardous waste, for example, tend to be met with greater understanding when the company is already well-known for cleaning up parks or building homes. Charitable initiatives by a business, therefore, aren’t just the right thing to do, but also the smart thing to do to ensure a steady supply of goodwill from the community—a valuable asset in times of trouble.
Thus, Connect First has secured a degree of protection for itself, as well as a degree of respect from the community at large. It will be interesting to see if this has any impact on the company’s bottom line in the near term, but whether it does or not, it still has some valuable protections and a little good old-fashioned karma insurance.
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