Giving back is part of our culture, so much so that we say it’s in our DNA. For all of us at Vertex and the Vertex Foundation, our annual Global Day of Service is a day that we look forward to all year long. It’s a day where we encourage everyone in the company to step away from their desks to support nonprofit organizations, spend time in our communities, and connect with colleagues.
One of the great things about our annual Global Day of Service is the number of opportunities that we make available across time zones and geographies. This year we coordinated more than 90 volunteer opportunities — both in person and virtual — so employees can choose a cause that is meaningful to them and an opportunity that works with their schedule.
This year, I’m proud to share that nearly 2,200 employees across the globe participated, and our employee participation rate was 57% — surpassing average corporate volunteer participation rates.
But it’s not just about participation, it’s also about impact. Volunteers are a lifeline for charitable nonprofits. According to the National Council of Nonprofits, without volunteers, “many charitable nonprofits would not be able to conduct programs, raise funds or serve clients.” Across 26 Vertex sites in 20 countries, Vertexians contributed more than 6,000 hours of service to benefit our communities.
Our Global Day of Service would not be possible without the many nonprofit partners we work with: Ronald McDonald House Charities, City Year, the SeriousFun Children’s Network, Together We Rise, The Trussell Trust and Feeding San Diego, to name just a few. The Vertex Foundation is a proud supporter of the SeriousFun Children’s Network, and a new activity this year was with L’Envol Camp in France. Vertexians in our Paris office gathered together to create activity kits and holiday banners for hospitalized children and their families.
It's wonderful to hear from our teams around the globe about their experience and the positive impacts of the day. The energy and enthusiasm that comes through is contagious. Hear from some Vertexians about why our annual Global Day of Service is so meaningful: