CCA Employees Give More Than $300,000 to Help Fellow Colleagues in Need
This year, Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) employees across the country have donated approximately $312,000 to fellow employees through the company’s CCAssist Fund. By November, the Fund, which “helps employees help each other” when faced with mounting bills related to personal crisis, had provided aid to more than 700 employees and their families.
“As our nation faces an economic downturn, we’ve all heard stories and seen headlines about esteemed organizations witnessing lower rates of giving and experiencing higher levels of need,” said Rick Seiter, CCA executive vice president and chief corrections officer. “We are fortunate that many of our employees remain continually committed to giving despite these pressures.”
Established in 2006, the CCAssist Fund aims to reduce the financial strain employees experience when faced with accidents, medical misfortunes and natural disasters that practically no amount of planning could have prevented. Since its inception, the Fund has distributed nearly half a million in employee-donated dollars to fellow CCA employees and their families experiencing unexpected – and unavoidable – financial distress.
“Much of the assistance we provide helps employees who have faced the devastation of floods, tornadoes and hurricanes; major illness of the employee or a family member; and overwhelming funeral expenses,” said Steve Groom, CCA deputy general counsel and vice president, who serves as chairperson of the CCAssist Board of Directors and its Advisory Committee, which reviews and processes requests.
Many CCA employees in Texas this year received assistance in the aftermath of Hurricane Dolly in July and Hurricane Ike in September. Nearly 80 percent of employees at the company’s Houston Processing Center and Willacy County State Jail (Raymondville, Texas) applied for aid to repair damage to homes and vehicles.
“We’re so grateful to CCA for these funds,” said warden Robert Lacy of Houston Processing Center. “After the extensive damage to our homes and other possessions, these funds were vital to getting us back on our feet.”
“You hope that you’ll never have to be in the position to utilize the funds, but when you are, it’s nice to know you have somewhere to turn,” said Willacy County State Jail warden Orlando Perez. “It’s been amazing to see the outpouring of support from other employees – 90 percent at our center alone donated a percentage of their paychecks.”
Overall, 2008 has represented a record year in giving for the CCAssist Fund. During 2006 and 2007, the Fund distributed $21,000 and $138,000, respectively.
“Each year, we have seen the level of employee giving climb, with nearly 20 percent of our workforce now contributing to the program” says Seiter, who serves on the CCAssist Board of Directors. “We take care of each other. These funds, which have helped employees tackle a range of dilemmas, are perhaps one of the most private ways CCA proves itself as a company that cares.”
Seiter said that CCA as a corporation also has made charitable contributions to the CCAssist Fund.
Employees submit requests privately and, if approved, receive assistance confidentially. The Fund is available to CCA’s nearly 17,000 employees nationwide in the event of a qualifying hardship. Any CCA employee, regardless of position or time with the company, can apply for immediate assistance of up to $500.
“Our ultimate desire is to be able to donate more funds to each individual, especially in exceptional circumstances,” Groom said.
About CCA
CCA is the founder and industry leader of the private corrections management industry, representing the nation’s fifth-largest corrections system, behind the federal government and three states. CCA currently operates 64 facilities, including 42 that are company-owned, with a total design capacity of approximately 81,000 beds in 19 states and the District of Columbia, with nearly 17,000 employees who provide comprehensive educational, vocational, therapeutic and addictions treatment programs intended to prepare inmates for successful re-integration with society.