UM, the global marketing and media agency network of IPG Mediabrands, today announced the launch of its second annual Global Impact Day. More than 80 UM offices worldwide closed their doors for the day as employees volunteered at philanthropic organisations around the world. Originally launched in 2016 under UM’s corporate social responsibility initiative, Better World, the agency’s annual day of service represents its core values of Care and Community.
The Better World platform unites the family of UM offices under a single umbrella to inspire each other, share best practices, and create connections across borders that lead to a Better World. Over a span of 36 hours and six continents, 5,000 UM volunteers will gather within their respective communities to restore parks, walk rescue dogs, paint orphanage walls, plant urban gardens, collect litter, visit the elderly, feed the homeless, donate school supplies and more.
“Impact Day is one of my favorite days of the year, and I am proud to be part of a global family that is committed to sharing our time, energy and love with communities in need around the world”, said Daryl Lee, Global CEO, UM. “From preparing adults to re-enter the workforce to restoring schools, facilities and parks, the inspiring projects we undertake are a critical part of how we collectively build a better tomorrow, today.”
Kasper Aakerlund, President UM APAC commented, “The collective force and sheer power of goodwill that is felt from our UM teams across the Asia-Pacific region when they unite to focus on helping create a better world each Impact Day never ceases to blow me away.”
He continues, “This Impact Day I joined our team in China, cleaning the shoreline to help mitigate the detrimental effect to the environment and local wildlife. As the stories and photos of local initiatives poured in across Asia I felt incredibly proud to be a part of this incredible network of people striving to reach out and make a difference where it matters most in their communities.”
UM employees will participate in more than 70 projects across the globe this Impact Day, across the Asia Pacific region more than 2000+ UM’ers volunteered their time to work for and with their local communities.
In India UM adopted Knowledge Sharing as their over-arching theme for Impact Day. They focused their efforts on educating underprivileged men and women cleanliness, sanitation and hygiene. Teams of UM’ers visited 28 Government run and independent women shelters across Mumbai, Delhi & Bengaluru.
In Mumbai, they also collaborated with a renowned NGO called Salaam Mumbai, and in addition to this visited 21 schools on Impact Day to talk to the students, provide insight into how ads are made via the Media Academy, and counsel on what to study if they eventually choose advertising or marketing as a profession.
UM employees across the globe will be sharing their Impact Day experience on social media using hashtags #UMBetterWorld and #UMImpactDay.
