Discover employees volunteer time to help nonprofit groups

Nearly 500 employees from Discover Financial Services descended on the Lake County Fairgrounds in Grayslake on Thursday to volunteer their time to support nonprofit groups through Chicago Cares.

Volunteers from the company's business technology department filled the exhibition hall as they painted murals, built planters boxes and benches and worked on the sprucing up the fairgrounds.

Nearly 70 percent of Discover's Riverwoods workforce participate in various community service projects throughout the year, company officials said.

"For Discover as a company, it's important that, given where we are in Riverwoods, that we give back to the surrounding community," said Glenn Schneider, Discover's senior vice president and chief information officer.

The nonprofits supported by the event were: Alexander Leigh Center for Autism, Anderson Animal Shelter, Boys and Girls Club of Lake County, Hephzibah Children's Association, Lake County Fairgrounds, National Runaway Safeline, One Hope United, Orphans of the Storm, YMCA of Metro Chicago and Youth Services of Glenview and Northbrook.

Chicago Cares creates programs that foster civic engagement by educating and empowering volunteers to be agents of change with group service projects, corporate programs and annual events.

To find out more about Chicago Cares, visit www.chicagocares.org