In 2008, the Employees’ Choice initiative included five OppenheimerFunds locations: New York, Denver, Bellefonte, PA, Boston, MA and Rochester, NY. After tallying the results, 2008 was the most successful year yet for Employees’ Choice. In addition to having over 550 employees and their friends and family participate, we also joined together to raise nearly $115,000 for these charities.
For office specific information and results, please click on the below locations:
Denver – Volunteers of America Runnin’ of the Green:
For the 2008 Employees’ Choice Event, the Denver office selected Volunteers of America’s (VOA) Runnin’ of the Green as their charity of choice. Team OppenheimerFunds raised just under $60,000 (including matching gifts), making this their most successful Employees’ Choice to date.
Due to their extraordinary efforts, VOA was able to implement a new program called Totes of Hope. The purpose of this initiative is to get fresh fruit and vegetables into the apartments of low income senior citizens. Twice a month, VOA volunteers meet to fill and deliver canvas totes stuffed with canned goods, dairy, fresh fruits and fresh vegetables to those in need. The VOA currently serves all the seniors living in the VOA Sunset Park Apartments (approximately 230) and is now able to expand the program to include six more high rises this summer and fall.
Additionally, this winter OppenheimerFunds will partner with the VOA to offer a new service, the Snow Buddies, to home-bound elderly people currently participating in the Meals on Wheels program. The program’s goal is to match these seniors with volunteers in their neighborhoods who will shovel sidewalks to prevent both falls and fines.
For more information on Volunteers of America, visit their website at: www.voa.org.
New York – American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk:
On Sunday, October 19, over 100 New York employees, their friends and families came out to Central Park to participate in the fourth annual New York Employees’ Choice event, the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. Team OppenheimerFunds had another strong showing finishing as one of the top five fundraising teams in New York City.
Through the support of generous employees, the team raised nearly $40,000 for cancer research and advocacy efforts in New York City. OppenheimerFunds’ sponsorship also underwrote the annual American Cancer Society Making Strides kick-off breakfast to jump start the fundraising and team-building efforts. A record-setting year, over 35,000 walkers joined with Team OppenheimerFunds to support American Cancer Society raising over $2.7 million to assist in the fight against breast cancer.
For more information on the American Cancer Society, visit their website at: www.cancer.org.
Bellefonte – The Second Mile:
In support of The Second Mile, an organization founded to help at-risk kids in the local community, The Bellefonte Social and Charitable Events (BSCE) Committee championed a successful Employees’ Choice fundraising drive. With a final tally of just over $5000, employees epitomized the team spirit proponent of Employees’ Choice and raised much needed monies for this worthwhile organization.
The Second Mile provides programs and opportunities for over 100,000 Pennsylvania children each year and challenges them to achieve their potential.
For more information on The Second Mile, visit their website at: www.thesecondmile.org.
Boston – American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk:
On Sunday, October 5, 33 employees, family members and friends making up Team OFII Boston, including John V. Murphy, Chairman, participated in their designated 2008 Employees’ Choice Event, the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. In support of the walkers, over 90 donors raised a record amount of nearly $9,500.
Due to their impressive fundraising achievement, the American Cancer Society recognized OFII Boston as a Pink Ribbon Sponsor, showcasing their logo on a five-foot pink ribbon that was placed in front of the starting line, making it visible to nearly 38,000 participants as they began the nation’s largest one-day breast cancer walk.
For more information on the American Cancer Society, visit their website at: www.cancer.org.
Rochester - American Heart Association Heart Walk:
In 2008, the Rochester office selected the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk, which aims to raise funds to help combat two of our country’s biggest killers, heart disease and stroke, as their Employees’ Choice event. On April 5, more than twenty OppenheimerFunds employees and family members, clad in red t-shirts, took to the streets of historic downtown Rochester in an effort to promote physical activity and “heart-healthy” living. In addition to participating in the walk, the Rochester employees raised nearly $3,100 to support this worthy cause.
For more information on the American Heart Association, visit their website at: www.heart.org.
To create a greater impact for our communities while providing our employees with meaningful volunteer opportunities focused on team spirit and employee unity, we instituted the Employees’ Choice volunteer initiative. Each year, employees in five of our offices select a local charitable organization and concentrate fundraising and volunteer efforts around it. OppenheimerFunds also contributes a specified amount to each designated organization.
Central Park, NY