Giving Back With Our Corporate Social Responsibility Team
With the holiday season upon us, Lumosity’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) team has been especially visible in the office: from assembling gift bags for the Glide Women’s Center’s holiday party to collecting gifts for the Salvation Army’s “Giving Tree” project, the team has spearheaded a number of initiatives in the spirit of giving back.
Lumosity’s CSR team grew out of a Hackathon project several years ago that investigated different ways in which Lumosity could responsibly and effectively give back to our community. Previously, the company had been involved in different charitable initiatives, too, but the CSR team was established to formalize these efforts. Today, the team is made up of seven employees who help identify and organize new opportunities, build relationships with leaders of like-minded programs, and encourage their peers to get involved -- in addition to their regular responsibilities on other Lumosity teams.
The CSR team is particularly keen to select opportunities that align with Lumosity’s values and are a good fit for our wider team. To that end, many of our CSR projects have focused on helping other organizations promote health and wellness. Each year, for instance, Lumosity participates in the Bay Area Brain Tumor Walk, and Lumosity covers the registration cost for all employees who take part in the event.
Other CSR projects look to help our wider Bay Area community -- we feel privileged to call San Francisco home and want to honor the many opportunities afforded us by this diverse and innovative city by giving back. In addition to our holiday season partnership with the Glide Women’s Center, the CSR team organizes regular outings to Glide Memorial Church where Lumosity volunteers help serve meals through their “Feed the Hungry” program. For animal lovers, the CSR offers events with San Francisco’s SPCA, and last month all employees were given a chance to donate blood through our Red Cross Blood Drive.
“Every year we try to offer a mix of new and familiar programs so people can both develop and strengthen connections to the San Francisco community,” one CSR team member explained. “Our programs provide hands-on opportunities to give back during the workday, which removes some of the barriers to time-based giving. It’s also a great way for people on different teams to work together when they might not otherwise have the chance.”
Although participation in CSR programs is entirely voluntary, volunteer spots often go fast. The team estimates they’ve organized over 25 events over the last two years.
“The enthusiasm for our programs has been incredibly gratifying,” another CSR team member said, “and I’m always inspired to see Lumosity come together to support other communities throughout the year, but especially during the holidays.”