Thanks to corporate good guys and employees for charity contributions, volunteer work

Large corporations, and their employees, do a lot all year to support local and national charities. Let’s give them some credit during this holiday season —

MGM Resorts — Employees of MGM Resorts International raised $4.6 million in 2011 to support more than 1,000 community-based nonprofit organizations that meet the needs of the communities in Nevada, Michigan and Mississippi, where there are MGM resorts and casinos, plus other regional and national nonprofit organizations. In the last decade, MGM Resorts employees have raised more than $44 million over the past decade to help charitable organizations better serve the community. MGM also covers all administrative expenses, so 100% of moneys raised go to the charities.

Meritor — You probably haven’t heard of this company, based in Troy, Michigan, which supplies drivetrain, brake and other automotive components to commercial and industrial fleets. Meritor has pledged $20,000 to support the new Freedom Center at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. The Freedom Center is a world-class reception and hospitality area for military service members and their families to Detroit, whether passing they are just through, or in Detroit for an extended period. All off- and active duty members of the armed services, family members and veterans, are invited to enjoy this new airport amenity.

Mercedes-Benz — Nearly two hundred Mercedes-Benz USA employees took part in a day of community service this fall to support Clean Ocean Action, an organization dedicated to improving the degraded water quality of the marine waters off the New Jersey/New York coast, close to company headquarters in Montvale, New Jersey. The effort was part of MBUSA’s year-long celebration of the 125th Anniversary of the invention of the automobile by Gottlieb Daimler, during which the company and its employees have partnered in 125 acts of collective community service in 2011.

Greenbrier Resort — West Virginia billionaire Jim Justice, whose company owns the iconic Greenbrier Resort, has donated $25 million to the Boy Scouts of America. Justice is president and CEO of Justice Companies, Inc., which purchased the resort in 2009. His contribution will establish the James C. Justice National Scout Camp, a key component of camping activities for Scouts at the Summit. It will bring together outdoor adventures in the West Virginia countryside with educational and leadership opportunities for youth. Justice has a long history of supporting and serving youth, including as a youth basketball coach for 25 years.

Delta Air Lines — More than 2,000 Delta employees have volunteered with Habitat for Humanity International to build homes in earthquake-ravaged Haiti, plus in the U.S., in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Salt Lake City and New York City. The Haiti project, in November 2010, involved 400 volunteers from Habitat for Humanity International for the Habitat’s 2011 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project.

American Airlines — The airline’s Something mAAgic Foundation works with four wish-granting organizations to help children with life-threatening medical conditions and their families get an all-expense paid trip to Orlando, Fla. To date, more than 375 children have participated in mAAgic flight. Bon voyage festivities take place in 33 airports served by American, hosted by airline employee volunteers. The Something mAAgic Foundation collaborates with A Special Wish, Casey Cares, Dream Factory® and the Make-A-Wish Foundation®, with the goal of expanding each organization’s wish-granting efforts. More than $1.6 million has been raised, in cash and in-kind donations, for the program.