Name: Karen Fisch
Title: Manager, Community Outreach
Organization: Salt River Project

Vital Stats: 53 years old, born in Chicago, very happily married for 9 years, no children

First or Most Interesting Job: I started out after college working on the client services staff of a marketing research firm then located in Phoenix.  It was interesting for 2 reasons:  I learned hands-on about effective teamwork to meet client needs, and learned how to collect, analyze and communicate what research data is saying to make informed decisions.

Hobbies/Favorite Pastime: gourmet cooking, independent/foreign films, hiking, reading and of course shopping!

Your Path to Philanthropy: My pathway to philanthropy started in 1991 when after 9 years of working at SRP as a research analyst, I was selected to serve as a Loaned Executive for United Way for 3 months.  I loved the experience and the opportunity to fundraise for human service non-profits.  When I came back to my position at SRP, I worked with a co-worker to create SRP’s formal hands-on employee volunteer program, SRP VOLUNTEERS.  That endeavor morphed into the creation of new department at SRP, Community Outreach, that included various community outreach functions under one umbrella.  I made the business case to my boss at that time to combine the various functions and manage the group, essentially creating my own job.  To date, I have been  in this position for 18 years and have had the great fortune to work with talented and committed staff and employees who care deeply about giving back to the community.  And I’m proud to say that SRP has twice received the prestigious Points of Light Foundation award for Excellence in Corporate Community Service.

Favorite Quote or Motto: I learned from my mother:  “If you’re going to do it, do it graciously”.

Organization Spotlight:

Name: Salt River Project

SRP has a passion for community service that dates back over 100 years. Whether it means providing financial support to hundreds of nonprofit organizations and events, mobilizing our remarkable volunteer force for neighborhood projects, or leading the way in environment-friendly technologies, SRP is proud to help Arizona shine.
Community outreach is the hallmark of SRP's corporate culture. We believe in a bright future for the communities we serve and we are committed to invest our time, resources and energy into the programs, projects and events that make Arizona a great place to live.
See just how passionate Salt River Project is in regard to community outreach by clicking here.

SRP wins Points of Light honor for a second time

SRP was named a recipient of one of the world's highest and most distinguished awards for community and volunteer service.
SRP received the coveted Award for Excellence in Workplace Volunteer Programs for 2007 from the Points of Light Foundation based in Washington, D.C. SRP previously received the award in 2000.

Click here to read more about this award.

Click here or on the logo to learn more about the "Points of Light" program.

SRP VOLUNTEERS at work in the community

SRP employees, retirees, families and friends invest time, skills and resources to build stronger Arizona communities. More than 85% of SRP employees have contributed time and effort to equal more than 700,000 hours of service - averaging 3.3 volunteer hours per week.

Click here to read more about SRP's volunteer work.