January, 2009
Reflecting on the events and challenges of 2008, one of the major themes that continues to surface is the on-going need for commitment. Nearly every industry has been affected by the current economic uncertainty, and we are all faced with the challenge of how to continue to provide effective services to our clients with fewer resources at our disposal. Philanthropy is no exception. Which is why, now more than ever, it is imperative that we demonstrate our commitment to our mission and our partnerships.
Over the past four years we have developed a philanthropy program that allows us to collaborate with our charity partners ensuring that our financial resources, business knowledge and employee skill sets are generating the most impact possible. While financial resources may not be as abundant as they once were, our shared approach helps us provide needed value, find innovative solutions to problems and serve our partners effectively.
This collaborative structure also served as the impetus behind the formation of our Partner Summit initiative, which you will be able to read more about in the 2008 report. We developed an all-day forum with leaders from each of our partner organizations to provide them the opportunity to network with others in their field, share experiences and insights and learn from experts to help address challenges and further their work in the field of youth entrepreneurship.
I am pleased that even in these difficult times we remain dedicated to our mission of youth entrepreneurship and business education and the organizations that support it. I also encourage all employees to continue in their commitment to our Community Investment Program whether through contributions or volunteerism.
As you navigate through our first on-line report, you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about our current and future program plans. We look forward to continuing to build on our strong foundation and to further develop the Program in 2009.
Sincerely,
John V. Murphy
Chairman
OppenheimerFunds, Inc.