Ed Sayres Giving Back

raking-leavesToday is National Philanthropy Day. It is a day set aside by the Association of Fundraising Professionals to recognize the incredible contributions individuals make to the philanthropic community. In line with this, we thus today take the opportunity to recognize the contributions of two businessmen who have taken time to give back to the community.

Not-for-profit businessman Ed Sayres was recently appointed as Chairman and CEO of the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council. Boasting four decades of experience in the animal welfare industry, Sayres – who is also Principal of Sayres Consulting (a nonprofit management consulting and philanthropic advisory firm) – is passionate about responsible pet ownership, pet sale bans and more. Indeed, it was Sayres who, in his work at the ASPCA, introduced and developed the no-kill animal shelter model he implemented while working at the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SF/SPCA). In terms of his business acumen, Sayres can be proud of the fact that when most nonprofits faced major challenges to keep afloat in the recession, the ASPCA still received substantial donor support, while expanding.

Moving on to something quite different but still with the same attitude of giving back, a week-and-a-half ago churchgoers skipped their services to help out in the neighborhood. Northview Christian Church members raked leaves to help those not up to the task. Around 280 volunteers last Sunday participated in this endeavor, working on 20 projects as a way of enhancing the neighborhood. As Pastor Dave Choutka pointed out, it is a way to “love our community.”

There are many ways that businessmen, students, the unemployed and indeed anyone can get involved in giving back to the community.