AAA in the Community

“Volunteerism, I believe, helps us understand the importance of why AAA exists. It enables us to relate what we do on the job to the value it brings to our members.” -- Jim Pouliot, CEO


Take a community need – educating children about traffic safety, cleaning up debris along the coast, or walking for the American Cancer Society. Add a spirited group of AAA employees and their guests including AAA members. And what do you have? AAA VOLUNTEERS!

AAA Volunteers is a volunteer network throughout the AAA enterprise established to provide AAA employees and friends the special opportunity to join the company in its commitment to community service.


AAA Volunteers – We Care.

AAA has a long tradition of helping people. For over 100 years, AAA has been committed to making traveling through life safe and enjoyable.

AAA Volunteers offers AAA employees hands-on opportunities to make a difference in our communities. By volunteering for events, personally helping others, and giving their time to deserving organizations and causes, AAA employees are making our communities safe and enjoyable.

Beyond the products and services we offer to our members, AAA is committed to helping build healthier, safer and stronger communities. No company can do well if the community in which they operate is unhealthy. AAA Volunteers improves the quality of people’s lives through relationship building, service, and volunteerism.

Participation in volunteer efforts is a way for AAA employees to better our communities. In turn, our employees better themselves by building important leadership development skills when they volunteer. Volunteering isn’t just about doing good, it’s about feeling good.


AAA Volunteers – Going the Extra Mile

“AAA is a leading advocate for safe and responsible transportation. As a leader for community safety, AAA Volunteers go the extra mile to support our safety vision.” -- Cindy Skinner, AAA Volunteers Coordinator

For thousands of AAA employees, “doing the job” means more than providing our members with quality service. It means giving that extra measure of personal time and effort – going the extra mile – to serve our communities.

The American Automobile Association (AAA) is the largest motor club in the United States, providing auto, travel and financial services to hundreds of thousands of customers.  AAA Northern California, Nevada, and Utah launched an employee volunteer program to support its mission: to advocate for safe and responsible transportation and to be a vital partner in community life.  The program was designed to complement AAA's leadership in the "emergency roadside service" business and focuses on responding to community emergencies.  The company launched a thorough needs assessment and conducted surveys with key community stakeholders.

The success of the AAA program can be attributed in part to the strong leadership provided by senior management.  When the program was launched, senior management approached volunteering as a vital business function and set specific goals for the program.  CEO Jim Pouliot has participated in volunteering at homeless shelters and painting homes in an area of low-income dwellings.  Each year, every AAA senior management executive volunteers as part of this program.  AAA executives lead department team-building events for volunteers.  They host "brown bag" meetings, share their volunteer experiences and recognize employee volunteers at special events.

AAA has a strong incentive program for its employees.  AAA provides 24 hours of paid time off for volunteering at company-supported initiatives and up to 80 hours of paid time off for disaster-trained volunteers.  AAA provides Dollars for Doers grants ($300 for 30 hours of service), hosts volunteer celebrations and awards trips to the National Conference on Volunteering and Service.  Since the launch of this program, employee volunteering has increased from 11% to 70%.

The program is committed to continual evaluation and seeks opportunities for improvement.  AAA surveys its partnering organizations and incorporates their insights into program improvement efforts.  These include a commitment to train and provide long-term volunteers who are reliable, conscientious and fun! Major partners include American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, National Parks, Junior Achievement, Make A Wish Foundation, Susan G. Komen Foundation, American Cancer Society, Project Homeless Connect, local food banks and soup kitchens.