On October 1, more than 25,000 Prudential employees, their families, and friends will participate in Prudential’s 17th annual Global Volunteer day by availing themselves to projects put forth by community service organizations serving an audience around the globe.
Prudential, Financial Inc.(NYSE:PRU) Newark, NJ, has annually held a Global Volunteer Day every October since 1995. The event has grown exponentially since then. 25,000 people participated in 800 Global Volunteer Day projects in the US and abroad last year, up from 5,000 people participating in 100 volunteer projects in the US and Japan in 1995.
Mary O’ Malley, vice president of local initiatives at Prudential Financial, sees Global Volunteer Day as unique to most corporate charity events because it allows volunteers to both choose and facilitate their own projects, enhancing their planning and leadership skills while performing a valuable service to society. “That is how we do well by doing good.” O’Malley said.
Projects include maintaining local parks and schools, building homes, mentoring children, preparing food for needy as well as a plethora of other charitable activities.
This year, Prudential will donate $1 to the USO for every volunteer registered in the U.S. as well as donating $1 to Japanese earthquake relief efforts for every volunteer registered abroad.
