VMLY&R celebrated its one-year anniversary by closing all of its 82 offices across the globe 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, September 26, was 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.
“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,” VMLY&R global CEO Jon Cook says.
“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.”
VMLY&R Sydney partnered with organisations including Clean Up Australia, the Salvation Army, Wesley Mission and the local food bank, while the Brisbane office partnered with Communify.
John Mulvihill, executive director of the VMLY&R Foundation, says the day "unites" the 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," Mulvihill says.
WPP announced the global merger of VML and Y&R on September 26 last year.
In its first year, VMLY&R was also awarded 31 Cannes Lions at the 2019 festival, including two Grand Prix.
Locally, both CEOs Aden Hepburn and Pete Bosilkovski have departed to be replaced by Jon Bird with a number of other exits and new hires made.
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