American Corporations Have Always Responded to Family Issues

Since the birth of the United States of America, and indeed going back even further to the days of Colonial America, organized businesses have existed. These businesses have always required any number of workers to make products, provide services, and the like. Eventually, with the establishment of the American legal system, these businesses became American corporations and flourished, needing even more workers. Of course, these workers typically have families that they are working to support, and from time to time, issues arise within those families that require extra assistance.

With this in mind, the issue of whether American corporations have always responded to family issues arises. In this research, the assertion will be made that American corporations have in fact always responded to family issues. This assertion will be supported with historical evidence. Statement/Support of Position The introduction stated that the position of this paper is that American corporations have always responded to family issues, and that position will be supported with historic evidence, with one important distinction at the outset.

It is impossible to say that all American corporations have always been responsive; however, it is possible to bring forth some prominent examples of huge corporations, past and present that are quite responsive in fact. First, we travel in time back to the early 1800s and the business empire of a Scottish immigrant named Andrew Carnegie. A true rags-to-riches story, Carnegie came to America as a young man and eventually worked his way into becoming one of the wealthiest men in America.

However, his personal belief was that a man who died wealthy without helping others was not a man at all. Because of this, he formed charitable foundations to help the families of his workers, as well as others, which today is manifested in the Carnegie-Mellon Foundation, which continues to help families to this very day (Andrew Carnegie: People and Events). Also compelling evidence of American corporations helping family issues include the millions of dollars that chocolate magnate Milton Hershey used to establish literally a town in Pennsylvania that would eventually bear his name.

His intention in establishing the town was to have schools, hospitals and housing that would foster the healthy development of the American family (Milton Hershey: The Company and the Man). Fast forwarding to the modern day, Ford Motor Company has devoted tens of millions of dollars to support military families, who have unlimited issues due to separations that are necessary when one parent is serving overseas and the like (Ford’s Warriors in Pink and Army Wives Join Forces).

Also, even in the midst of one of the worst economic situations in recent US history, the American financial industry of late has united to raise funds for the battle of cancer, a horrible disease that literally destroys families (Financial Industry’s Leading Charity Aims to Raise $1 Million at Annual Expect Miracles). Conclusion From just a few prominent examples, past and present, the point has been firmly established that American corporations have always responded to family issues.

Once again, it should be stated that not all corporations respond like Ford, Hershey ,etc. , but perhaps they will in the future if motivated by the excellent examples set by the corporations that have responded to such issues. In closing, that is probably the most significant point to take away from this research. References Andrew Carnegie:People and Events. Retrieved October 13, 2008 from the World Wide Web: http://www. pbs. org/wgbh/amex/carnegie/peopleevents/pande01. html Financial Industry’s Leading Charity Aims to Raise $1 Million at Annual Expect Miracles.

Retrieved October 13, 2008 from the World Wide Web: http://www. reuters. com/article/pressRelease/idUS114628+09-Jun-2008+BW20080609 Ford’s Warriors in Pink and Army Wives Join Forces. Retrieved October 13, 2008 from the World Wide Web: http://www. fordvehicles. com/warriorsinpink/armywives/? searchid=426441&28330281&205684999References Milton Hershey: The Company and the Man. Retrieved October 13, 2008 from the World Wide Web: http://www. hersheypa. com/town_of_hershey/history/