The Sky’s the Limit

Grant-making and volunteer program aims to change the world around Johnson Controls

Johnson Controls employees often effect change by creating and championing new products, new materials and new manufacturing processes. Other times, effecting change may mean stepping outside the workplace.
In 2004, the company launched Blue Sky, a global public affairs and communications program focused on sustainability. One aspect of the program encourages employees to give back to their respective communities through good works—for example, tutoring children, serving meals to the homeless and assisting the elderly.

A Refocused Effort

In 2006, Johnson Controls developed the next incarnation, Blue Sky Involve, which formalizes the volunteer experience in two primary directions: leadership development among employees and environmental protection. By focusing efforts in two major components of the corporate vision, the company can better allocate resources and track efforts.
As part of this, each Johnson Controls location is eligible for one Blue Sky Involve grant of $1,000 per year for worthy projects that protect the environment or foster leadership potential. To ensure that employees give back to the community, a condition of the grant-making process requires employees to volunteer during the project. The project must support a charitable organization or an educational institution.
The program has had worldwide impact. Some of the success stories include:

Collaboration with the Special Olympics Shanghai and Special Olympics East Asia. Employees first adopted the Zha Bei Qi special needs school in Shanghai where Johnson Controls funded training and activities to assist student athletes getting ready for the Games. Twelve employees also volunteered as caregivers at the Olympics.
Cleaning the coastline of Key Biscayne. Almost 90 Miami employees helped out at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center. Their work helped develop a thriving environment for native mangroves and reefs—and ensured a safe nesting area for sea turtles.
Sponsorship of the Sinethemba Children’s Care Centre in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, to help disadvantaged youths develop leadership skills.
Environmental awareness campaign created by Johnson Controls employees for the Wild Bird Society of Taipei in Taiwan.
Reclamation of wildlife space next to a Johnson Controls facility in Whitby, Ontario, Canada. Employees picked up trash and removed invasive plants.

In all, employees in more than 33 countries participate in Blue Sky Involve, helping to make the corporate vision more of an everyday occurrence in the world.