Whither Good Works

The global economic recession has precipitated enormous changes in the way business conducts itself. One of the more unfortunate consequences has been a retrenchment by corporations on their good works, philanthropy and volunteerism.

To be sure, fiscal prudence dictates that companies must put their own financial homes in order before extending helping hands to others. Few major corporations are so flush with hard cash that they can continue to operate at the same pre-recessionary levels.

And yet, amidst this crisis, there are those companies that continue to contribute to society and mankind in ways that are nothing short of admirable. Pfizer's Patient Assistance programs come to mind as reflecting the kind of help big corporations need to provide to those in need. As does Johnson & Johnson's Access to Medicines programs that gave away 2.3 million units of medicine to over 300,000 people across the globe. In the mega-buck world of pharmaceuticals and medicine, these are two companies that appear to be leading the way on what it means to be good corporate citizens.

There are other examples out there across the industrial landscape. My recommendation is that we continue to look for the good works that companies are doing, if for no other reason than it makes the world better and makes us all stand a bit stronger. For the cynics out there who say this is meaningless corporate blather, I suggest you visit the dusty streets of Yaounde, Cameroon or the crowded slums outside Lusaka, Zambia for a firsthand view of the impact of free medicine on the life of those who are in need.