IRVINE, Calif. — Consumer Portfolio Services recently recapped the charitable impact company employees made last year not only near their California headquarters but also close to branch offices in Virginia, Florida and Illinois.  

CPS highlighted that employees' charity contributions in 2011 included:

—Susan G. Komen Foundation: $5,374.
—Operation Homefront, a program supporting soldiers and their families: $1,313
—Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: $699.
—Second Harvest Food Bank of Orlando, Fla.: More than 2,000 cans.
—Greater Chicago Food Depository: 695 pounds of food.

CPS mentioned employees also give of themselves individually.

In the Virginia branch, one employee generously takes supplies and food to local homeless people in the community on a monthly basis.

Employees in the Irvine, Calif., office support Veterans First of Orange County.

In addition, CPS in California donates its suites at the Honda Center and Angels Stadium to raise money for various local causes to include the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program, charity golf tournaments, local youth sports programs and several area schools. 

CPS explained its branches pick local or national charities to support, and they conduct campaigns to raise money or food throughout the year. They employ varied methods of raising money including "selling" special apparel days (such flip-flop or crazy hat privileges), silent auctions of employee-contributed items, chili lunches and bake sales, and simply asking for donations. 

"At CPS, we are grateful to have employment, homes and our health; we feel it is important to return some of our bounty to the community," stated Missy Hennessey, the company's vice president for human resources.

"We plan to contribute even more in 2012," Hennessey added.