The philanthropic efforts by AUL Corp. recently generated a new milestone.

The F&I product provider announced earlier this week that its employee-run charitable giving committee has just surpassed $500,000 in contributions since 2012.

The committee comprised of non-management employees was established in 2012 to foster and enhance the firm’s connections with the local community. Yet, the impact to the members of the committee and the community has been far more meaningful than originally anticipated, according to AUL president and chief executive officer Jimmy Atkinson.

“Equally important to the contributions and the much-needed benefits, are the deep connections the employee-led committee has established and the many relationships they have fostered within the community,” Atkinson said in a news release.

Challenged to research and identify local, regional, and national organizations across the spectrum of need, committee members recommend, approve and facilitate the firm’s philanthropy program. This allows employees to see and feel a real difference being made in their community and beyond.

“Being appointed a part of the charitable giving committee has been game-changer for me,” said Amy Hubert, a founding member of the committee. “I never imagined I could be so vested in or so proud to work for a company. AUL truly cares for us and entrusts us with a deeply meaningful responsibility.”

The impact of these contributions has been felt on both sides of the relationship.

According to Yvonne Baginski, director of Share the Care Napa Valley, “The AUL contribution to Share the Care has made life better for older adults who are alone, isolated, ill and frail in Napa County. A small local nonprofit, Share the Care relies only on individual donations to continue caring for the elderly in our community. AUL has made an enormous difference in the viability of our organization and ability to help others.”

Napa’s Hands Across the Valley also has benefitted from AUL.

“We are so grateful for the generous support from AUL over the past six years,” said George Altamura, founder and board president of Napa’s Hands Across the Valley. “Generous companies like AUL send a message that our community cares about serving our most vulnerable members.

“There’s a reason why AUL is consistently named 'one of the best places to work' by the North Bay Business Journal. Their company culture is one of inclusion and community support, and we are proud to have them on board to help feed the hungry in Napa County,” Altamura added.

Atkinson made one more point about the company’s charitable endeavors.

“Since AUL’s founding in 1990, our people have always been our most important asset, and the activities of our charity committee have allowed us to share that philosophy with our community,” he said.