Along with thousands of individuals who volunteer in Butler County, hundreds of businesses also contribute to the quality of life here. Companies were encouraged to tell how they make a difference in the county. Here are some of those companies.

Besides making you feel at home, the staff and management of Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott in Butler Township also help the community through donation of their time and resources.Katitlin Genovese, sales manager, said the hotel’s staff and its corporate parent company, Concord Hospitality Enterprises, believe it is important especially “in a time of economic decline, we do our best to continue donating our time and resources to those in need.”Over the years, some of Fairfield Inn’s donations have been made to these organizations:Veterans Appreciation Journal, Mental Health Association of Butler County, Musician’s Concert Band, Butler County Symphony, Youngstown Air Reserve, Quality Life Services, The Parkinson’s Alliance, American Cancer Society.Also: Butler County Local Housing Options Team, Lifesteps, Butler County Junior Miss, American Heart Association, UPMC Children’s Hospital, Junior Women’s Club of Butler, Rainbow Animal Shelter, and Soroptimist International.Instead of sending company holiday cards this past season, each of the company’s more than 50 hotels donated between $500 and $1,000 to Feed the Children, a nonprofit organization that delivers food, medicine, clothing and other items to individuals and families who lack these essentials because of famine, war, poverty or natural disaster.“Our employees then followed up by delivering the items we sponsored to several locations throughout the United States,” she said. “On Feb. 5, a group of our own Fairfield Inn & Suites associates helped unload a truck at Gideon’s Place in Pittsburgh.”Both Marriott and Concord Hospitality also participate with the Children’s Miracle Network, a hospital system that provides free care and research. Each year the corporations sell raffle tickets to benefit the network in exchange for the opportunity to win 1,000,000 Marriott Rewards Points.Also she said, “Every other Friday, our associates are encouraged to donate at least $3 to the Children’s Miracle Network fund in exchange for the opportunity to wear blue jeans and casual clothing for the day.”Genovese said in 2008, these $3 donations added up to more than a $200 contribution to the network.

For international architecture firm, Burt Hill, commitment to community is an integral part of its culture.Founded in 1936 in Butler, Burt Hill has embraced its corporate responsibility to contribute to the success of communities, on both a professional and personal level.This value is practiced throughout the organization, and is evident by Burt Hill’s team participation and leadership roles. Randi Voss, a Burt Hill architect and a Carnegie Mellon University alumna, is participating in a mentoring program for first-year female engineering students at Carnegie Mellon.During the program, students and mentors are responsible for building a relationship, deciding what they each want out of the program. The program started in October and will go until May. At the end of the program, all participants, students and mentors, will meet for an educational speaker seminar, and reflect on their experiences.“I look forward to developing relationships with these women and I hope to help them realize how the academic experiences they endure today will translate into a work environment in the future,” Voss said.As a firm, Burt Hill’s most recent community outreach program has been providing free, professional services to Girl’s Hope Home of Pittsburgh for a new house.The new Girls Hope Home is a 7,800-square-foot, $1.2 million project, that is designed to instill in each of the girls, staff members, volunteers and visitors an appreciation for the environment and the responsibilities of caring for our surroundings.The firm’s team is also actively involved in organizations such as The Friendship Preservation Group, Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh, Lawrenceville Stakeholders Group, and the Scott Township Appeals Board.

Farmers National Bank employees participated in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, selling books, herbs and walking.The Bon Aire and Meridian offices sell books to benefit the cancer society. They sold pink bracelets during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.Employees have donated to the Moraine Trails Council of the Boy Scouts.They also participated in the Salvation Army’s Treasures for Children and Seniors Tree, participated in the Butler Memorial Hospital Caring Angles program, sponsored Hunter’s Hope Golf Outing and raised money to benefit Hunter’s Hope.They collected items for military troops in conjunction with the AM Butler Rotary Club, and donated to and participated in judging at the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby.And they made these donations: Candle, Inc. Reality Tour, $300; Bowl for Kids’ Sake, $150; Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, $100; Butler Public Library, $100; and Junior Women’s Club of Butler, $250.