In honor of our employee volunteers engaging in their communities around the world, William Blair launched in April, global volunteer month, a new grants program that contributes funds to charities where colleagues volunteer their time.
For every hour an employee volunteers at a school, food pantry, homeless shelter, cultural institution, youth center, or any number of organizations helping communities grow stronger, the firm will match their volunteer time with financial contributions to the charities they support. The program complements the firm’s employee-match gifting programs that have raised millions of dollars over the past year for various causes, including COVID relief and social justice and racial equality.
“We are thrilled to provide another opportunity for colleagues to engage within their communities with the addition of our Global Volunteer Grants Program,” said Paige LaCour, who leads the firm’s community engagement initiatives. “All our engagement programs help William Blair employees cultivate meaningful and ongoing relationships with their communities, a long tradition of William Blair.”
Honoring volunteer month was a reminder of the importance of supporting local communities globally in 2021, a year when families, neighborhoods, and communities continue to struggle from the impact of COVID-19, she added.
Colleagues engaging in their communities
William Blair colleagues from Boston to San Francisco and across the pond to London and Zurich celebrated volunteer month by helping their neighbors.
In Boston, employees sorted and organized donated items for the Community Giving Tree, a group that helps low-income families in northeastern Massachusetts. The San Francisco office partnered with a social agency to distribute groceries to senior citizens and a garden club to clean up a local children’s park.
Colleagues in Chicago and New York hosted financial planning sessions for high school youth and adults. Others in Chicago helped Cradles to Crayons deliver well wishes to kids. In Baltimore, employees supported a local animal shelter. London staff teamed with Ronald McDonald charities for a virtual travel challenge, raising funds to support children and families facing devastating illnesses. The Zurich office partnered with the Swiss Red Cross, providing German to English translations for a new Red Cross digital system.
“There are so many wonderful organizations in our city working relentlessly to empower families, strengthen communities, and improve lives—it is an honor to help them meet their missions,” said Jen Viglucci, with William Blair’s team in Baltimore. “No doubt the past year has tested everyone’s spirits but being able to help along with the support of the firm is making a difference.”