Santos, Postal & Company, P.C. Enables Staff To Volunteer During the Workday

Franci Lopez, Administrative Assistant at Santos, Postal & Company, P.C., had been wanting to contribute to the community when her employer offered her just the opportunity. Santos, Postal & Company, P.C. invited Chelsea Soneira of the Junior Achievement Program to speak to the SantosPostal staff about becoming involved with Junior Achievement. Junior Achievement is a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching children in grades K-12 the significance of free enterprise, business, and economics.

In her current position at SantosPostal, Franci’s administrative responsibilities have given her firsthand experience with the ins and outs of business. And, she had been impressed with the Junior Achievement Program when they came to her daughter’s school to speak to her third grade class. As a busy, single, working mom with three daughters, ages 4, 6 and 10, Franci’s free time is limited. Able to volunteer during her workday, Franci chose to teach third grade students at Beall Elementary School, her alma mater. “SantosPostal understands the importance of job fulfillment by allowing their employees to take time off of work to pursue worthy causes.,” says Franci.

At the first session she brought in a school photo from Beall Elementary School taken of her class in 1985—the kids guessed which student was Franci. During the next five sessions, she spoke to the kids about city development, working to improve urban living, and pursuing careers as city planners, builders, or entrepreneurs. The class constructed a cardboard city with buildings of businesses designed and named by each child. They then decided where to place their business on a city map. At the end of the five week session, each student received a certificate of accomplishment.

Santos, Postal & Company, P.C. has a long history of performing philanthropic work. “SantosPostal gives to many local organizations, yet you rarely see our name publicizing our contributions. It is just ingrained in the culture of the organization,” says SantosPostal Principal Bob Greenfest.

Franci worked as a receptionist for SantosPostal from 2000-2001, when she took time off to be a stay-at-home mom. She returned to SantosPostal in 2007 because of the “people and partners who genuinely care.”

Franci concludes, “It is good for my kids to see me volunteering. It shows them that anyone can take time out of their day to help someone else. This program allows children to see how the world around them directly affects their life as well as the people in their community. I believe it is important to teach children that their world extends beyond their home and outside of their family. My kids are proud of me.”

For more information about SantosPostal, please contact Bob Greenfest at 240-499-2040 or BGreenfest@SantosPostal.com.