Taking a Look Back at the 2014 Sanofi Season of Solidarity
March 26, 2015 /3BL Media/ - The Sanofi Season of Solidarity (SSOS) 2014 – Volunteering to Support a Healthier Community – was a tremendous success thanks to the passion and participation of nearly 2,000 Sanofi employees in North America under the guidance of NA Corporate Social Responsibility.
This theme not only encompassed the well-being of individuals, but also the holistic health of communities as a whole – communities in which our employees live and work. Projects spanned from supporting equine-assisted therapy programs, to packing nutrient-rich meals for Ebola-stricken countries, to purchasing and delivering winter essentials for Head Start children.
A total of 176 volunteer projects were completed, utilizing 24,808 volunteer hours.
Below is a snapshot of four of the 2014 projects and the committed employees who literally rolled up their sleeves to make a difference.
More than 300 employees participated in three separate projects with Stop Hunger Now, an organization that distributes food and other life-saving aid to vulnerable children and families around the world, in a unified effort to end world hunger. Their community-supported meal-packaging programs engage half a million volunteers a year.
During SSOS 2014, partnering with Stop Hunger Now yielded 60,000 nutrient-enriched meals, which were sent to various countries affected by disasters, including Ebola-stricken Liberia. Sanofi has partnered with Stop Hunger Now since 2013. Through this partnership, more than 115,000 meals have been packed and delivered, ultimately benefitting tens of thousands of individuals.
Nearly 40 Genzyme employees spent a full the day at the Boys & Girls Clubs of MetroWest in Framingham, helping to improve the facilities and interact with club members. Just across town from Genzyme’s facilities, the Clubs serve over 750 at-risk youth each day through physical education, social recreation, the arts, technology and prevention programming.
The team spent the morning hard at work cleaning, painting, and creating an outside four square court at the clubhouse. During the afternoon, employees played dodge ball and nok hockey with club members, and helped with homework in the learning center. Through Genzyme’s G.I.V.E. program, the team’s Season of Solidarity efforts also earned the organization a $4,000 donation. Genzyme has been a supporter of the Boys & Girls Clubs of MetroWest since 2009.
Dozens of North Brunswick employees helped Riding with HEART, an organization located in Pittstown, N.J., which offers a wide range of equine-assisted activities and therapies for people with disabilities, including autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and developmental delays.
Merial employees used their project management and team skills to create experiences and to improve facilities for those that have challenges with some of life’s activities. Employees completed a variety of tasks, including leaf raking, tree trimming and the expansion of a sensory garden, which included removing trees and sticks. Tactical and auditory tools, including wind chimes, and sensory boxes to be used by clients of Riding with HEART were built, painted and readied for installation.
Hundreds of Sanofi Pasteur employees collected and hand-delivered truckloads of gifts, non-perishable food items, gently used clothing and supermarket gift cards to Pocono Services for Families & Children.
This year’s “Adopt-a-Family” holiday drive marked the 20th anniversary of the generous tradition, which has supported hundreds of Monroe County, Penn.-based Head Start children and families since its inception.
“The best part of my holiday season is observing our clients’ reactions when they receive gifts from the compassionate people of Sanofi Pasteur,” said Jackie Lapping, the organization’s Family and Health Services Manager. “I’ve seen parents cry, laugh and often just breathe a sigh of relief.”
