timelessdesignscorp.com

As discussed in the previous article (Social Responsibility – Part 1, March 12, 2009), there are four areas of measurement to consider when assessing a corporation’s level of social responsibility.  Those areas are: economic function, quality of life, social investment, and problem solving.  Part 1 discussed the first two metrics, and now we continue to the third: social investment.

Social Investment

This is a two part metric involving the investment of money and the investment of (presumably non-capital) resources.

Investment of Capital

As touched upon in Part 1, “The key to being economically functional is having a solid business model that focuses not simply and solely on making money, but that places a high order of value on all stakeholders: partners, investors, the community, and local government.”  To paraphrase, neither Timeless Designs nor the Mathias Island at Fortune Bay project has profit as its central and most revered goal.

Put another way, it is the partners’ belief that investing in society yields real results in terms of the company’s bottom line.  Those results may not be directly obvious, but they are real nonetheless.  I’ll elaborate on this later.

First, though, there are three key areas in which Timeless Designs Corporation intends to invest in solving social problems.  One way is to partly subsidize education.  In terms of per-pupil spending, the State of California ranks 36^th in the nation (National Education Association Rankings of the States, 2005-2006).  In January of 2006, writes Jill Tucker of the Oakland Tribune, California “squeaked by” an average national ranking in terms of “standards and accountability, teacher quality, school climate and resource equity,” receiving a B- from the national publication, Education Week.

That a state that ranks below average in terms of spending, yet ranks slightly above average in performance, is a positive result.  Now imagine what a school could do if it’s funding was the best in the nation.  Timeless Designs Corporation intends to find out.  The schools built for the Mathias Island at Fortune Bay community will be partly subsidized by the corporation, possibly as charter schools, which traditionally perform better than fully public schools.

On April 3, 2008, Julia Rosen published an article in a blog on Calitics in which she stated that education spending in California is $10,264 per student, and she claims that number to be $1,700 per pupil below average.  We are projecting approximately 8,000 students will live in our community.  Let’s, for arguments’ sake (and round numbers) say that number is 10,000.  For $25M per year from a net operating income of $500M (about ½%), we can increase education spending above the national average, to a number more like $12,500 per student.

Another indicator Ms. Rosen cites is a lack of funding for transportation.  “California also ranks dead last in funds spent on transportation services, according the Census Bureau,” Rosen states, “This is a budget item that many school districts are having to cut even further with the proposed $4.8 billion in funding cuts, making it even more difficult for students in both rural and urban areas to get to school.”

Timeless Designs Corporation also has this issue well in hand with most children living in easy walking distance of their schools, and access to the community monorail system for the rest.  We have been contemplating running special monorails (or monorail cars) exclusively for students before and after school.

The topic of education will be discussed further when we talk about investment of resources.

Another area in which TDC plans to dedicate capital to solving the problems of society is really several interrelated areas.  Generally, it is getting those in and around our community who are not living up to their life’s potential into programs that will help them design and achieve their dreams.  This can range from the homeless to low-income wage earners who want more from life than $8 an hour and monthly food stamps.  Even higher-income people with aspirations to improve their lives will be able to benefit from these programs.

In essence, the partners at TDC believe that anyone can be successful – however they define “success” for themselves.  If they are not successful, there is a root cause.  If that cause is identified and treated, and then an individual is taught the right set of skills and provided the proper motivation, they can and will be successful.

Root problems could include such things as substance abuse and addiction, mental health problems, physical disabilities, lack of education, or simply a lack of ambition – some people are held back simply by their belief that the American Dream is no longer attainable.

Timeless Designs Corporation intends to partner with the health care industry, charitable and faith-based organizations, and government to craft a comprehensive set of services to help support the people who want to improve their lives.

Investment of Non-Capital Resources

The partners in Timeless Designs Corporation have demonstrated their willingness to serve humanity in their personal lives, long before ever becoming partners in the firm.  Sometimes volunteering for faith-based or church-related service, other times volunteering for non-profit organizations from helping homeless veterans to helping school-aged children in Central America, each has given of him- or herself outside the corporation.

As Timeless Designs grows, it will be an important part of our governing policy to provide incentives for employees to participate in their communities and in the world.  In addition, TDC plans to open its doors to area high school students and encourage other community businesses to do the same.  The program is being tentatively called the Student Apprenticeship Program, wherein students preparing for a career or higher learning will be invited to participate in the management of the corporation.

Whether their interest lies in leadership, accounting, research and development, human resources, or other aspects of corporate management, internships will be available to supplement and augment their classroom studies.  In this way the company hopes to inspire young minds, foster a belief that the American Dream is alive and well, sow the seeds of innovation and invention, all while providing a hands-on, real-world foundation on which participants may build their futures.

End of Part 2

Continue to Part 3