Social Change

Outdoor lifestyle brand Timberland celebrates the 25th anniversary of its award-winning Path of Service™ program by kicking off a season of volunteer events around the globe. The events will reinforce the brand’s commitment to be Earthkeepers by working to protect and restore the outdoors and support the communities where it does business. To mark this milestone, the brand will lead various service initiatives throughout August, September and October, including its annual Serv-a-palooza and Urban Greening events, while also encouraging consumers to find volunteer opportunities in their own communities through VolunteerMatch.org.

Equinix is a US-based company that connects the world’s leading businesses to their customers, employees and partners inside the world’s most connected data centers in 44 markets across five continents. They launched an international giving and volunteering program with Benevity in 2016, and the results have been impressive. Their 2016 one-month annual Impact Month campaign saw donations jump by 50%, while participation grew by 62%, and volunteer hours increased by 72% year-over-year versus 2015 (before they rolled out their international program).

We spoke with Equinix's Director of Corporate Citizenship, Sujata Narayan, about the business and social drivers behind their program, how they made it work, its impact and the value of local champions to an international Goodness program.

After eight years of planning, HELP of Southern Nevada has opened their new location of the Shannon West Homeless Youth Center on July 14 on Flamingo Road. The new 37,000 square-foot center provides services to youth at no cost and the residential and day programming enables youth to learn skills necessary to succeed as adults.

Whirlpool Corporation interns joined employees to volunteer and build homes as part of the company's longstanding partnership with Habitat for Humanity.

Companies are focusing more on the power of purpose and mission to engage their employees and help create a corporate culture that is compelling to today’s diverse and socially conscious workforce. This translates into changes in the tactics and execution of what a mission-driven organization looks like. For instance, charitable efforts have evolved from annual fundraising campaigns to a people-centric approach to Goodness, with year-round giving and volunteering programs that allow employees to choose which charity they support. With this, they’re seeing employees who are far more engaged, loyal and productive.

Robert McGhee, vice president of community development at Citi, has been a part of the Chicago banking community for more than two decades, with roles in retail banking, mortgage banking and community affairs. He supports the Citi Foundation’s partnership with Points of Light and the Corporation for National and Community Service to bring a groundbreaking initiative, ServiceWorks, to help underserved youth in U.S. cities where the economic downturn has intensified their struggles.

Las Vegas Sands and Clean the World have announced a first-of-its-kind service in Las Vegas to help homeless people. The Sands Cares Fresh Start Mobile Showers Powered by Clean the World is a traveling hygiene unit that visits locations serving the homeless to provide showers, hygiene supplies and other resources.

Fighting back against crime and promoting safer communities is the focus of statewide activities today involving Consumers Energy, local government leaders and law enforcement. A 5:30 a.m. promotional event at Consumers Energy’s office, 4000 Clay Ave. SW, Wyoming, kicked off activities across Michigan in support of the 34th Annual National Night Out.

Boeing (NYSE: BA) today announced an organizational realignment, strategy update and branding refresh of the company’s philanthropic giving organization.

Jacquie Ryan wasn’t sure what she wanted to do after she graduated university with a degree in English and Film Studies, so she headed to Banff to coach skiing. The short-term job set her on a path to a long-term career, and she’s continued to let her passions guide her profession ever since.