Exelon nurtures a culture of community involvement in the workplace. The company’s volunteer program provides many opportunities and special recognition programs such as the Leadership in Community Service employee awards. These awards recognize Exelon employees who demonstrate superior dedication to servicing our communities.
Last year, almost 1,500 employees logged through Volunteer Match nearly 38,000 hours of community service on environmental projects, United Way volunteer activities, student mentoring and recognition programs, cause-related walks and races, and renovation and refurbishing projects at schools and community agencies. We’re proud of our employees who work diligently to enrich the quality of life in our communities.
VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH
Each month we will profile one of our outstanding employee volunteers in this section. This month, we’ve asked Kim Batdorf, Technical Clerk at Limerick NPS our five questions about her volunteer work – Raising funds for the Alex Lemonade Project, an organization that helps children with cancer.
Caption: Kim (center) and her team of Limerick volunteers show their spirit and support of the Alex Lemonade Foundation.
SEPTEMBER:
Kim Batdorf
Technical Clerk
Limerick NPS, Philadelphia
What led you to volunteer?
The motivation and involvement was brought about for many different reasons. I shadowed a close friend who chaired corporate fundraising event for Alex Lemonade and was moved beyond words. I knew instantly this cause was something that we could do at Limerick and the other Exelon sites and make it a company-wide initiative. Children are our future and their innocence and courage when stricken with this disease inspired me to do something positive.
What was your most memorable day as a volunteer?
My most memorable day was the June 5th CBS Channel 3 Telethon that was held in Philadelphia. I was overwhelmed with pride to represent Exelon that day. The day consisted of celebrities, TV/radio personalities, Philadelphia Professional Sports Reps and corporate executives together donating their time to help fight the disease of childhood cancer. Many of the stricken children also appeared with their parents on the set as they appeared on TV to tell their courageous stories. The final honor was when Alex Corporation along with Channel 3 asked my Exelon Team and I to run the Lemonade Stand that day. What an effort we gave and the end result was a huge success.
What keeps you coming back as a volunteer?
I feel a strong sense of urgency to encourage others to raise money for childhood cancer causes, new cures and treatments. Limerick is proud and honored to take the lead on promoting charitable giving throughout the Nuclear Fleet and all other Exelon sites. Countless hours of personal time from the committee here at Limerick were sacrificed last year and resulted in a success like no other ever held here at the Limerick Station. This year the event committee has tripled in size.
How has volunteering expanded your interests?
My interest is attempting to spread the message of Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation and help raise even more money for childhood cancer research throughout the Exelon company. Cancer affects all of us in one way or another. My dream is to fight it to the best of my ability by contributing my time and volunteering in any way I can to make forward progress.
Why do you recommend volunteering to others?
The strength, enthusiasm, dedication and human spirit our Limerick team showed for our first annual charity event in Oct. 2007 was an adventure all should experience at least once in a lifetime. You honestly have to “live it” to feel the true meaning of giving of yourself unselfishly to such a wonderful cause. Each and every one of us can make a difference in this world and we here at Limerick are living proof.
Do you track your hours on Volunteer Match?
Yes I do and I encourage all of my committee members to track theirs faithfully also. In 2007, I had a total of 247 hours tracked.
AUGUST:
Bob Bowen
Executive Assistant to Ruth Ann Gillis|
Exelon BSC, Chicago
What led you to volunteer?
Diving at the Shedd Aquarium gives me a chance to introduce people to a part of the Earth that few of us understand. Our planet is 70% water and the world's oceans provide great health benefits to humans ranging from food and nutritional resources, to recreational opportunities and new cures for human disease as well as providing half the Earth's oxygen. I see my role as a Shedd diver volunteer as an opportunity to generate a curiosity in the audience that will make them thirsty for more knowledge. Besides, I also get an excuse to dive in warm, clear salt water with an amazing array of fish few people get to see one-on-one.
What was your most memorable day as a volunteer?
The day one of the Beluga whales spit a column of water at me as a joke. The other belugas started "laughing" as I stood there soaked just as the doors opened for the public.
What keeps you coming back as a volunteer?
The look on the kid's faces and the questions everyone keeps asking about the oceans.
How has volunteering expanded your interests?
I started volunteering as a Boy Scout leader when I turned 18. Then I decided to upgrade my diving certification to become an instructor so that boys could see there is a big world waiting for them if they stay focused and do the right thing. Later I started a Sea Scout Ship to bring scuba diving and sailing to young men and women between the ages of 14 and 21. I started volunteering at the Shedd about the same time. Volunteering is all about giving back to your community with whatever gifts you may have and giving others an opportunity to grow to their full potential despite challenges.
Why do you recommend volunteering to others?
It feels good.