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In celebration of its one-year anniversary, VMLY&R closed all 82 offices across the globe last Thursday, September 26, to give more than 6,500 employees the opportunity to support their local communities through volunteer projects.

This year’s theme for VMLY&R’s Worldwide Foundation Day is “Connecting Hearts, We Are One,” which highlights the collective impact of all employees rolling up their sleeves to give back in meaningful ways over the same 24-hour period.

This year, VMLY&R employees donated their time and talents to dozens of nonprofit and community organizations, including VMLY&R Sydney partnering up with Clean Up Australia, the Salvation Army, Wesley Mission, and the local food bank. VMLY&R Brisbane is linking up with Communify beautification efforts supporting housing efforts for those in need.

In New Zealand VMLY&R Auckland has partnered up with Auckland City Mission and skill sharing to help Rasnz tackle public prejudices against immigrants in New Zealand and VMLY&R Wellington is helping InsideOUT with a new campaign to support young people of the LGBTQ+ community.

Says Jon Cook, global CEO, VMLY&R: “I can’t think of a better way to celebrate VMLY&R’s one-year anniversary as a unified force than by giving back in the communities that foster our success. One of our core values is ‘abundantly generous,’ and Foundation Day wonderfully embodies that spirit. Our employees select the community partners we work with on Foundation Day, and volunteer project leads handle all of the planning, so we maximize our collective efforts.”

WPP announced VMLY&R on September 26, 2018, uniting two leading brands to deliver a contemporary, fully integrated digital and creative offering to clients on a global scale. In its first year, VMLY&R has focused on agency leadership, client partnerships, and business development, and has added new clients to its global portfolio. VMLY&R was also awarded 31 Cannes Lions at the 2019 festival, including two Grand Prix.

Says John Mulvihill, executive director of the VMLY&R Foundation: “The VMLY&R Foundation is a unique thread that unites the agency’s global network in a charitable, collaborative and fulfilling way. VMLY&R’s ongoing commitment to charitable service — which manifests itself in volunteerism, pro bono work and community leadership positions — is present in all VMLY&R offices around the globe.”

VMLY&R Worldwide Foundation Day is a signature program of the agency’s corporate giving foundation. The VMLY&R Foundation, created in 2005 as an employee-funded and employee-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisation, recently surpassed $2.2 million in charitable donations. More than 50% of U.S.-based VMLY&R employees contribute to the VMLY&R Foundation fund through payroll deduction.

Follow VMLY&R’s Foundation Day activities with our hashtag #WeAreVMLYR.