‘Every act of generosity matters’
From acts of kindness to virtual volunteering to donating to charities, Wells Fargo employees kicked off a new year-round approach to service and giving during the Month of Action in September.
During September, Wells Fargo employees sent positive messages to loved ones, colleagues, and community members; helped out their neighbors and friends; promoted small businesses; provided food for front-line workers and people in need; translated historical documents to increase access to them; donated money and household items to charities; and committed to helping the environment, among other efforts.
It was all part of the Month of Action, which kicked off a new year-round approach to employee service and giving. Employees participated in the Month of Action by taking part in virtual volunteer opportunities with select charities, making financial gifts to their favorite cause or to the WE Care Fund to help colleagues in need, or by performing acts of kindness, a new component of the year-round effort.
“This new approach helped care for communities, neighbors, and colleagues through personal actions,” said Nate Hurst, head of Social Impact & Sustainability for Wells Fargo, in an email to employees. “Across the company, we came together to demonstrate that every act of generosity matters. Thank you for your support of each other, our communities, and our planet.”
“Across the company, we came together to demonstrate that every act of generosity matters. Thank you for your support of each other, our communities, and our planet.” — Nate Hurst
Employee efforts during the Month of Action
Here are some examples of how Wells Fargo employees participated.
Keeping a local school safe
Debi Adam, digital marketing consultant in Charlotte, North Carolina, purchased personal protective equipment to make sure a local school had enough resources to keep classrooms safe.
Providing access to food
Henry DeRussell, staffing specialist in Los Angeles, volunteered at a local, mini-urban farm. Due to COVID-19, the nonprofit there is relying on volunteers and donated supplies. This fun and rewarding work will ensure that people have access to food.
Helping with the national blood shortage
Caleb Tuten, investment manager research analyst in New York City; Michelle Beczkala, Technology Operations associate manager in St. Louis; and Paul Bayer, financial accounting consultant in Charlotte, North Carolina, donated blood, platelets, and double red blood cells at local blood banks to help others.
Showing appreciation and gratitude
Carl Musni, Operations supervisor in the Philippines, gave a sack of rice to his parents’ caregiver, a mother of 12 whose husband suffered a stroke, to show his appreciation and gratitude.
Supporting older adults
Wayne Thompson, Communications advisor in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, helped create Project Silver Lining with his church community, where members commit to supporting older adults. He and his wife have baked goods, left flowers on doorsteps, created crafts, and delivered other surprises. Thompson cares weekly for the yard of a woman whose husband died before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Giving back to a recent college graduate
Kelly Norris, Technology Business Services senior manager in Charlotte, North Carolina, and her husband donated a car to Robert Boyette, a recent college graduate in need. This was his first car and a life-changing event for him.
Spreading positivity through the mail
Combining her passion for painting with her passion for spreading positivity, Diann Zimmerman, Treasury Merchant sales manager in Irving, Texas, brings cheer to someone's day by sending a postcard with her art. She’s on her second roll of 100 postcard stamps and hopes this small ripple of kindness makes a positive impact on someone's life.
Showing kindness toward animals
A.V. Hemanth Kumar, a loan documentation specialist in India, gives food to a local dog and said it always brings him satisfaction to feed someone in need.
Being kind to the environment
The Homeowner’s Insurance team in India came up with the initiative of a virtual planting activity to show kindness toward the planet. The group was happy to keep up the commitment Wells Fargo makes every year as part of its corporate social responsibility.
A neighborhood comes together
After an email to her neighbors asking for donations to benefit families that were struggling to access benefits from local food banks, Pamela Walshe, digital manager in Denver, was flooded with donations of food and other necessities. With Walshe’s living room space exhausted, the work has expanded to a new location, garnered cash donations, and will soon become a 501(c)(3) charity.
Thanking essential workers
Becky More, Community Relations consultant in Anchorage, Alaska, delivered a new vacuum to a nonprofit after finding out theirs wasn’t working, gave gift cards to the airline employees for her and her son’s flight, and dropped off eight loaves of bread and two dozen cookies from a local business for emergency dispatchers at the Anchorage Police Department on Sept. 11.
