VMLY&R will close its 100-plus offices across the globe for business on Thursday, September 29, continuing a long-standing tradition of giving its employees the opportunity to support worthy causes and nonprofit organizations of their choice through volunteer projects in their respective communities.
This year’s theme for VMLY&R’s Worldwide Foundation Day is “Make Your Mark,” which encourages employees—regardless of whether they engage virtually or in person, individually or with a small group, or with family members—to do something that resonates with them.
“Giving back has been a core value to VMLY&R since day one,” said Jon Cook, VMLY&R global CEO in a statement. “Every year we continue to make Foundation Day the most diverse and far-reaching yet, and right now, purposeful connection is more vital than ever. Foundation Day is a fantastic opportunity to unite our entire agency family while supporting local communities we love serving.”
VMLY&R Worldwide Foundation Day is a signature feature of the agency’s overall community outreach program. In the U.S., the VMLY&R Foundation is an employee-funded and employee-led organization that is nearing $3 million in charitable donations. Employees are invited to financially support the Foundation through payroll deduction contributions. Foundation members receive benefits, including the ability to secure charitable grants and participate in a matching gift program.
“Purposeful moments of connection have never been more important,” said Lauren Ziegler, VMLY&R associate director of community outreach in a statement. “Worldwide Foundation Day provides an opportunity for team members to connect through shared charitable interests, providing meaningful ways to spend time together virtually and in-person.”
Additionally, the VMLY&R Foundation supports an array of pro bono services for nonprofits. Each employee also has 16 hours each year of paid volunteer hours, over and above Foundation Day, to utilize however they see fit to improve their community.
People can follow VMLY&R’s Foundation Day activities via the hashtag #WeAreVMLYR.
Some of the many programs the employees will participate in include feeding the homeless and volunteering with a local animal shelter in Buenos Aires, renovating a high school in Johannesburg, South Africa, cleaning Great Lakes beaches in Chicago, organizing a blood drive in Kansas City, and fundraising for the Ukrainian army and local child services organizations in Ukraine.