Software House International is a family-oriented organization that recognizes the value of teamwork and dedication. Throughout each year SHI employees demonstrate the power of teamwork on a wider scale by participating in various community fund-raisers and contributing to local charitable causes. As the company grows, so does our collective wish to serve the community. SHI. participates in several community events throughout the year. Some of the key activities include:

• New Jersey Food Bank

  SHI will donate regularly to the food bank which provides holiday dinners for families in NJ.

• Annual Hardware Sale for United Way

  Every year SHI has a discount sale for employees to buy hardware items that are replaced internally. All proceeds go to The United Way, a non-profit organization whose mission is to "raise funds to support approaches that improve human well being and alleviate human suffering."

• Holiday Gifts for Seniors and Children

  Each December SHI works with DYFS (Division of Youth and Family Services) and the NJ Dept. of Human Services in collecting and routing toys, clothing, and food to local families during the holiday season.

• Clothing Drives through the Salvation Army:

  Clothing, shoes, and home items are collected thoughout the year and shipped to our local Salvation Army branch. SHI has also responded to emergencies by donated clothing, blankets, toys, medical supplies and non-perishables to the local Red Cross.

• Animals in Distress:

  SHI partners with the ASPCA in bringing food, treats, and blankets to orphaned and rescued animals during the holiday season. The donations also include first aid equipment for the rescuers, who are often injured during animal rescue.

• Blood Drives with the Red Cross:

  Every year SHI hosts a blood drive with the Red Cross at our global headquarters in Somerset, NJ. Each participating employee makes a pre-scheduled 30-minute appointment for the day of the drive.

• Other Past Company-Wide Community Service Events:

  Dress-down for World AIDS Day- The entire company participated in an extra dress-down day for World AIDS Day. All proceeds were sent to the Hyacinth AIDS Foundation which provides AIDS awareness/education in the community and helps support local families affected by the virus.

• Charities

  Numerous charities are supported by the company throughout the year. Employees announce walk-a-thons, find drives, etc. in our weekly newsletter and SHI usually will match whatever amount the employee is able to collect on their own.Events and organizations that SHI has supported in the past include:

  • Special Olympics
  • American Diabetes Association
    
  • Race for the Cure, Susan G. Komen Foundation
    
  • The Institute for Children with Cancer & Blood Disorders
    
  • CARE
    
  
  

• Following is a list of donation opportunities, fund drives and events that took place across the nation from New Jersey to Texas to California as well as internationally, in the UK.

  2007
  

  • The Ronald McDonald Foundation benefit auction was Feb 28, 2007
  • MS RIDE to cure MS
  • Spring Walk-A-Thon (fund raiser for the ARC)
  • Fall Frolic - (community fund raiser for the ARC)

  2006
  

  • AIDS walk
  • Avon Breast Cancer Walk in NYC
  • Big Brothers and Sisters
  • Breast Cancer run in the UK
  • British Heart Association Run
  • Camp Sunshine
  • Canine Companions for Independence
  • CHOC Walk which benefits the Children's Hospital of Orange County
  • Community Bible Church
  • Cure Autism Now (CAN) walks
  • Elijah's Promise, a soup kitchen
  • Fall Frolic - (community fund raiser for the ARC)
  • Family Resouce Associates
  • Goldie's Place
  • Have A Chance - Walk To Fight Brain Tumors
  • I was a behavioral assistant for trouble teens through a company called R.A.P. (Rehabilitative Adolescent Program)
  • Kids Camps
  • Locks of Love program
  • Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
  • MS RIDE to cure MS
  • MS Walk
  • National Hebrew Foundation Sponsor
  • New Brunswick Home Improvement
  • Oxford Hospice Run
  • Park Presidio Quail Restoration Project
  • Rainbows Inc
  • Relay for Life by the American Cancer Society
  • Ribbons of Hope
  • Rotary club in 2006
  • SOLDIERS ANGELS
  • Spring Walk-A-Thon (fund raiser for the ARC)
  • St Jude's
  • Summer PlaySAFE
  • Team Jump Off
  • The Mark Roberts Cancer Fund
  • The Valerie Fund
  • Train to End Stroke
  • Upper Allen Middle School, 5k run
  • Women's Health and Counseling Center

  2005
  

  • Katrina Relief Program - Memphis, TN - Volunteered through Hope Presbyterian Church
  • CARE - Tsunami relief 2005.
  • Red Cross - Katrina Relief Fund 2005
  • Note: Final list for 2005 is being complied
  • Avon Breast Cancer Walk in NYC
  • Summer PlaySAFE
  • New Brunswick Home Improvement
  • Just Us Girls 5k walk
  • Spring Walk-A-Thon (fund raiser for the ARC)
  • Fall Frolic - (community fund raiser for the ARC)
  • Breast Cancer Awareness
  • Susan G. Komen Foundation
    
  • JAG Fund
  • Community Bible Church
  • Aids Walk

  2004
  

  • Suzuki Rock-n-Roll Marathon for Leukemia & Lymphoma
  • AID's Walk NYC
  • Race for the Cure
  • Over the Rainbow / United Way School Supply Fundraiser
  • Charity Cycle Ride for Cancer Research (UK)
  • March of Dimes Motorcycle Ride
  • Our Lady's Youth Center of Juarez, Mexico Bike Ride
  • Emergency Blood Drive 2004
  • American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk
  • University of Scranton Thanksgiving Food Drive

• Major Accomplishments

  SHI encourages all of its employees to make a difference in both their communities and around the globe. The following is one example of this involvement.

  In 2004, an SHI employee volunteered as a startup member with a group of business people challenged to develop a marketplace development program that could be implemented in a boiler plate fashion anywhere on the globe in under developed countries.

  The Pilot was implemented with a group of 50 business owners in Nairobi, Kenya, Africa. Participants were independent business people. The Pilot consisted of a 12 week training program taught by a local professor from a local college. The curriculum included a broad introduction to business skills to enable the participants to make their businesses more profitable. Classes included:

  • Business math with emphasis on profit / loss - banking, cost of goods, selling price, goods vs. services, reinvestment, etc.
  • Marketing and sales - how to sell more goods to more people / companies; how to find customers, how to present products and services offerings on paper and in presentations, etc.
  • Networking with other similar and diverse businesses to augment knowledge, source product, sell product, etc.

  In January, 2005 - The SHI volunteer spent 1 1/2 weeks in Nairobi meeting with local lenders, political and market leaders, large businesses, hospitals and clinics, and university personnel. The purpose of meetings was to determine potential partners to continue implementation of Marketplace Training Program per Pilot that had been determined a significant success and deliver materials to existing partnered organizations and managed planning sessions of future projects and needs assessment, expectations, and provision.

  The employee interviewed Pilot program participants to determine benefits received from training. The employee reported that the knowledge transfer was a huge success and the impact to future profitability of the 50 businesses was identifiable after just 10 weeks of the program.