Atlanta-based natural gas provider Gas South on Tuesday was named as the first winner of goBeyondProfit’s Champion Award.
The honor, accepted by Gas South President and CEO Kevin Greiner, is given to draw attention to companies who benefit their community and company by exhibiting three best practices: cultivating company culture, deploying company resources and focusing on community empowerment.
After Greiner and his leadership team read the book The Story of Purpose, they realized they could do more for their community. They devised the company purpose statement, “Fuel for Good,” which included a pledge to dedicate 5% of profits to help children in need. That bold goal now weaves its way through the company’s culture itself, where now everything the company does comes back to what it means to be a Fuel for Good.
“We believe we have an obligation to help those in need to ensure stronger more resilient communities,” Greiner said. “Our pledge to invest 5% of our profits for children in need underscores this commitment and leads to stronger communities. I’ve learned that delivering on a clear purpose articulation is extremely powerful for building a positive company culture so the whole approach translates into a stronger business, too.”
“Gas South’s journey has been decisive and creative,” explained goBeyondProfit founder Rick Jackson. “We hope it’s inspiring to businesses of all sizes to embrace an idea, infuse associates with its energy, and empower their employees and customers to live it.”
goBeyondProfit was launched in 2017 with the belief that businesses can and should be a positive influence on their communities. Headed by Jackson Healthcare Chairman & CEO Richard L. Jackson, and President, R. Shane Jackson, the organization seeks to encourage and catalyze Georgia businesses to give, as well as to show them the substantial benefits that creating a culture of giving can have on a company.
And few companies are more deserving of goBeyondProfit’s Champion Award than Gas South, which has made giving one of its core tenets and reaped the rewards of that decision.
“Put a stake in the ground,” said Greiner. “Make a pledge that is tangible and measurable and articulate a clear, authentic strategy for how your company is going to make a difference.”
