ALKU Gives Back
In order to promote ALKU’s model, one of the main guidelines set in place is to pay it forward. By actively engaging in the mentoring cause, we can utilize our resources and the values we pride ourselves on cultivating to empower those who need support.
Mentoring
Community Outreach
Why Mentoring is Important to ALKU
Mentorship is integral to ALKU’s company culture, both internally and externally. When employees start at ALKU, no matter their level in the company, they are paired with an internal mentor. This person guides them throughout their time at ALKU, helping them in their day-to-day and long-term career. ALKU prides itself in its internal commitment to mentoring, that when it came time to choose an external organization to support, mentoring made sense to ALKU. To support the Mentoring initiative, ALKU partners with Mass Mentoring Partnership (MMP) and BEST Kids, Inc.
Partnerships
Mass Mentoring
ALKU and MMP’s partnership began in 2012. Massachusetts Mentoring Partnership (MMP) fuels the movement to expand and empower youth-adult relationships and to meet the needs of communities across Massachusetts. Mark Eldridge, ALKU’s CEO & Founder, has served on the MMP board since 2015 and has been actively involved with the mentoring cause for much of his life and professional career.
BEST Kids
Since 2016, ALKU has partnered with BEST Kids to support the mentoring cause. BEST Kids is a one-on-one mentoring program for DC’s foster care system youth. They work diligently to provide each child in the foster case with at least one stable and long-lasting relationship in the form of a positive adult role model to support kids’ life challenges.
The ALKU Scholarship
Each year since 2015, ALKU has partnered with Mass Mentoring Partnership to provide a $30,000 academic scholarship, or $7,500 per academic year, to a rising High School senior in Massachusetts. This scholarship recipient has been positively impacted by a mentoring relationship and plans to attend a 4-year College or University.
For the first time, ALKU extended two $30,000 scholarships to celebrate MMP’s 30th anniversary in 2022. This scholarship has increased by 50% from $20,000 in 2020.
Community Outreach
Although mentoring is our focus, the ALKrew gives back to local communities in many different ways. We’ve been recognized by Boston Business Journal as a Top Charitable Contributor in Massachusetts for the fourth year. From 24 hours of volunteering time off and company-wide fundraising, to planting trees and donation drives – here are just a few of our other efforts.
VTO
ALKU values the importance of giving back. That is why all ALKU employees are allowed 24 hours of Volunteer Time Off (VTO) hours per year. In addition, countless opportunities are shared monthly, encouraging employees to take time as a team to utilize their VTO hours.
Tree Planting
In June of 2022, our team joined the world-wide initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to help slow global warming. ALKU partnered with One Tree Planted, an organization committed to restoring our forests, creating habitats for biodiversity, and making a positive impact worldwide. ALKU has pledged to plant 20,000 trees through One Tree Planted by the end of 2023.
Season of Giving
Annually, the ALKrew participates in
ALKU’s Season of Giving. This is when employees highlight and support incredible charities that the members of the ALKrew individually choose. In 2022, 11 charities were submitted to each receive a donation of $1,500 from ALKU. The Employee Resource Groups (ERG) received $2,000 to donate to any cause they chose as well.
Employee Resource Groups
Eight Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) have been created through our DE&I Council. ERGs are created and run by our ALKU employees to support the needs of the ALKrew. Learn more >
ALKU Foundation
The ALKU Foundation builds on ALKU’s Corporate Giving Back program offerings and expands the scope of giving through grant-making for youth-serving nonprofit organizations across Massachusetts.
Sponsorships
Lazarus House
Drive for Dignity, Hike for Hope, Sharing Our Bounty Gala & Auction
Special Olympics (MA)
Lawrence Unified Gameday
Springfield Pride
Springfield Pride Parade
Junior Achievement
JA Golf Classic, Career Pathway for Alumni
Cradles to Crayons
Backpack-A-Thon
Girls On The Run
5K (MA & NC), Sneaker Soiree (MA)
DC Scores
One Night, One Goal
Dream Big!
All-Star Gala & Auction
BEST Kids
Superhero 5K & Fun Run
Professional Center for Child Development
Annual Trot for Tots
Special Olympics (NC)
Fall Tournament
Center for Living and Learning
Golf Invitational
Silver Lining Mentoring
Match Gala
Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce
Elvis Bisono
Community Engagement Coordinator
Elvis Bisono attended Fisher College. He started his ALKU career in February 2022. Today, as ALKU’s Community Engagement Coordinator, his job is to create and maintain relationships with non-profit organizations that ALKU partners with. Additionally, Elvis runs all giving-back initiatives and programs at ALKU.
Get In Touch with Elvis:
ebisono@alku.com
917.701.2328
LinkedIn