Winner: Discovery Communications Discover Your Impact Day
To celebrate its 25th anniversary, Discovery Communications launched its first “Discover Your Impact Day”—a day of global employee volunteerism. Via e-mails and an intranet, a planning committee worked to mobilize employees to help give back to the planet on a global scale. Over 3,000 employees in more than 50 worldwide offices participated in 140 unique volunteer projects ranging from painting murals at schools to planting a mangrove forest. Essential personnel who could not leave the building were given in-house projects including creating greeting cards for the NIH Children’s Inn or creating kits for hurricane relief or for the homeless. The program was such a success that it will now be an annual event. —RD
Honorable Mentions:
Carmichael Lynch Spong – Hitting It Out of the Park with CLRBI: Carmichael Lynch Spong's new office space across from the Minnesota Twins ballpark served as the perfect inspiration to enrich its CSR efforts and engage employees. The agency created the CLRBI program to track the total RBIs during the Twins season donating $5 and one hour of community service for each RBI.
Charles Schwab & Co – Schwab Volunteers: Giving Back with Purpose: During Schwab’s Volunteer Week, 2,000 employees donated their time helping people improve their financial well-being through financial workshops, building homes, beautifying schools and community centers, and volunteering at homeless and domestic-violence shelters.
Ernst & Young – Volunteer Wall of Fame: Ernst & Young’s Volunteer Wall of fame recognized the its local, regional and national volunteer efforts while inspiring and engaging employees.
PwC/Edelman - Creating a Culture of Service: In 2010 nearly 60% of PWC’s employees volunteered more than 127,000 hours through innovative programs like “Project Make (responsibility) count – an outreach effort in New Orleans, partnerships with Feeding America to provide school children with breakfast and pro bono consulting with major organizations including the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund.
Viacom – Leader in Employee Volunteerism: In 2010 Viacom’s “Viacommunity” Day generated its largest global presence ever in 23 countries worldwide. Employees volunteered with children-based institutions, including Free Arts NYC, London Play in England and a Clothing & Sneaker Drive with donations going to four orphanages in Haiti.