When CornerStone Staffing opened its doors in 1991, it was a modest, family‑run staffing agency in Fort Worth with a simple belief: Strong businesses are built on strong people. More than three decades later, that belief has grown into a companywide ethos, one that now stretches across 11 locations, 65 employees and a rapidly expanding presence in the Greater Phoenix region.
CornerStone entered the Phoenix market in 2020 at the request of a longtime client. What began as a strategic expansion quickly evolved into something deeper. As the company embedded itself in the Valley’s business landscape, it also began weaving itself into the fabric of the community.
“Community support is part of our identity at CornerStone Staffing,” says Jody Smith, president and owner. “Our partnership with Phoenix Children’s allows us to invest in the future of families across Arizona, and we are honored to play a small role in the extraordinary work they do every day.”
That partnership, now a cornerstone of the company’s local engagement, reflects a broader mission: to make a measurable and meaningful difference in the communities where CornerStone’s employees, clients and associates live and work. Its vision is ambitious yet grounded: a world where every child has access to life‑saving medical care, every family has support in times of crisis, and every adult has a pathway to meaningful employment.
Giving back became a natural extension of the company’s identity. As a staffing firm, CornerStone sees firsthand how health, stability and opportunity shape a person’s ability to thrive at work. Over time, those insights inspired the company to formalize its community engagement efforts, transforming goodwill into structured, sustainable programs. “Social responsibility is a buzzword of sorts,” says Chief Information Officer Debra Hill, “but we’ve always been passionate about giving back to the community we live and work in.” That passion led CornerStone to seek out local nonprofits in every market it enters, ensuring its presence benefits not just businesses and job seekers but the broader community ecosystem.
One of the most meaningful expressions of this commitment is Helping Hands of CornerStone, a 501(c)(3) foundation established in 2008 to support temporary associates and internal colleagues facing unexpected financial hardship. Funded through voluntary employee contributions and company donations, the foundation provides confidential, need-based assistance for crises ranging from medical emergencies to housing instability. The program is administered by an independent committee of CornerStone team members, ensuring fairness and integrity in every award. Helping Hands has become a powerful symbol of the company’s belief that community begins with the people we are closest to.
Beyond internal support, CornerStone invests in causes that strengthen families, empower women and expand opportunities for youth. Its philanthropic footprint includes financial contributions, volunteerism, advocacy and grantmaking. The company’s Colleague Charity Day program gives every employee a paid day each year to volunteer with the nonprofit of their choice, paired with a company donation to that organization. In 2025 alone, employees have supported more than 40 nonprofits, reflecting the diverse passions and commitments of the CornerStone team.
The company’s grant‑style initiatives further amplify its impact. CornerStone has sponsored the FC Dallas Foundation’s annual grants, supporting healthy, active lifestyles for underserved communities, and provided a “Homegrown Helper” gift benefiting children, families, and individuals with special needs. In Arizona, the company served as Presenting Sponsor of the Phoenix Business Journal’s 2025 Corporate Philanthropy & Nonprofit Business Summit, awarding a $5,000 unrestricted grant to L.I.F.E. (Lauren’s Institute for Education) to help build an inclusive playground for children with developmental disabilities. Earlier, in celebration of kits 25th anniversary, CornerStone launched a donation campaign supporting organizations such as Ladder Alliance and Dress for Success, helping women rebuild their lives and reenter the workforce with confidence.
These efforts reflect a consistent throughline: CornerStone invests in organizations that uplift children, families and the workforce, mirroring the company’s own role in helping people build stable, fulfilling futures. Its partnership with Phoenix Children’s Foundation remains a defining pillar of its Arizona presence, supporting pediatric care, research and family assistance programs for children undergoing treatment. Through financial contributions, volunteer activities, awareness campaigns and seasonal giving drives, CornerStone helps amplify the mission of one of the state’s most essential institutions.
As CornerStone Staffing continues to grow in Phoenix, its commitment to community remains unwavering. The company’s philanthropic model is rooted in purpose, guided by compassion and strengthened by the belief that when people thrive, businesses thrive. “Our responsibility is to support both,” Smith says. In a region defined by rapid growth and evolving needs, CornerStone is proving that a staffing firm can be more than a connector of talent; it can be a connector of hope, stability and opportunity.
Tyler Butler, a trailblazer in ESG and corporate citizenship, has led Fortune 500 sustainability programs, contributed to two IPOs and founded Collaboration for Good. With degrees from ASU, Boston College and Cornell, she writes for top publications and serves as head of Public Affairs for Phoenix Rising FC.
Photo courtesy of CornerStone Staffing
