OffleashCARES: Reflecting on 2019
By Shea Geary
As I wrap up my first year as a member of the OffleashCARES team, I’ve been reflecting on the moments that have meant the most to me, and how our mission evolved through 2019. OffleashCARES is the agency’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program. Heading into our 5th year of the program, OffleashCARES is more committed than ever to helping the world and communities around us, while enriching our team’s work experiences with opportunities to give back and bond with one another.
This year we made it our mission to hone in on causes that are closest to the hearts of the people we work with every day—making our year of giving back that much more fulfilling.
In September, our team participated in the Autism Speaks Walk in San Francisco. This cause is particularly meaningful for Offleash Vice President, Tanaya Lukaszewski. Not only was this event an opportunity to raise money for a great cause, but it also provided a day of relationship-building that extended beyond the Offleash team, as many of us brought family to participate. I was lucky enough to have my mom and youngest sister in town for the event. While joining us in giving back, my family was able to meet the people I spend my days with at Offleash. The agency exceeded its fundraising goal of $1,500 and raised over $2,000 through generous donations from employees, loved ones, and the Offleash network.
Another milestone—for the seventh consecutive year, our team gathered at the Presidio Trust for Earth Day. Like years prior, we reached out to fellow Bay Area PR agencies to join us in continuing to restore Mountain Lake in San Francisco’s Presidio. As a group, we got to get our hands dirty, give back to our environment, and network with peers in the process. This year was our biggest yet, with nearly 60 participants, totalling over 165 hours of service to our local park. Check out our recap blog to learn how our agency partners facilitate a culture of stewardship throughout the year.
Finally, in an effort to make our holiday giving inclusive, our larger team got to choose to donate to the organizations that mean the most to them: Toys for Tots, SEVA Foundation, or Pound Puppy Rescue (where our very own President Robin Bulanti adopted her pup, Dutch). Each member of the Offleash team had the opportunity to decide which organization their portion of the end-of-year donation would go to, ensuring we hit our goal of donating one percent of our annual profits to good causes.
Being on the OffleashCARES team reminds me to look outside of my daily routine and take time to focus on causes that are important to me and to Offleash as a whole. As we kick off 2020, we’re excited to continue our work and spread giving beyond our agency.
To learn more about OffleashCARES and our commitment to giving back, visit: https://offleashpr.com/about/offleash-cares/
Shea Geary supports Offleash client teams with editorial assistance, speaking, awards, social media and research. Contact Shea here
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