Screen-Shot-2020-09-30-at-1.57.33-PM

 

Written by Christina Franz. Originally published on twilio.com.

 

Just as COVID-19 has accelerated digital engagement, the pandemic has accelerated our responsibility to help others as companies and individuals. From helping a neighbor who is sick, to calling someone who is lonely, to giving what we can toward social causes, the pandemic has highlighted the many ways we depend on each other, both within our companies and across the communities we call home.

 

Twilio founded WePledge last year to support employees in making a positive impact. Through WePledge, Twilions give 1 percent of their time and resources to do good, and we support them by providing volunteer time off, accessible volunteer opportunities, and matching gifts. It’s a model that has proven to drive impact at scale. Over 1,000 Twilions have donated $1 million dollars and contributed 6,000 hours of service to social good.

 

A new global partnership for social impact

 

Now, we’re calling on you to join us. Starting today, WePledge is open to everyone—individuals and companies. We’re thrilled to announce that our inaugural company partners Atlassian, Okta, and Zoom are launching WePledge at their companies to enable 13,000 more employees to take action for social good. The social impact nonprofit, Pledge 1%, is also bringing WePledge to its global community of impact-led organizations. And finally, we’ve opened WePledge to every individual who wants to pledge to do good, even if you don’t work at one of these companies.

 

WePledge for individuals

 

We know many of you are volunteering and donating to social causes already. We want to help accelerate your impact by inviting you to join the WePledge movement. When you take the pledge, we’ll share easy ways to learn more about causes you care about and volunteer virtually.

 

To amplify the WePledge community’s impact, Twilio is donating $1 million USD from our donor advised fund toward organizations selected by WePledge members. The first 10,000 eligible individuals* who join WePledge by the end of 2020 can designate 1 of 10 nonprofit organizations to receive a $100 USD donation from Twilio’s donor advised fund when they sign up.

 

Learn more about joining WePledge as an individual.

 

WePledge for companies

 

WePledge is a proven framework to activate employees in social impact, whether your company is new to social impact initiatives or is already engaging employees. Mark Reading, Head of the Atlassian Foundation, explains, “WePledge is a great framework for extending the Pledge 1% movement to employees of both Pledge 1% members and companies that aren’t (yet) part of the Pledge 1% movement.”

 

In addition to doing good, research shows that when companies build cultures of giving, they also realize greater success. According to a study by the Babson Social Innovation Lab, a well-designed corporate social responsibility program can increase employee productivity by 13 percent, reduce employee turnover by 50 percent, and increase revenue by as much as 20 percent.

 

When you join WePledge as a company partner, we’ll provide resources and support to help you launch WePledge at your company. You’ll receive a program guidebook, tools to help motivate and inspire your employees, and more. Our goal is to equip you to level up your company’s impact by using proven tactics that scale. As Kelly Steckleberg, CFO of Zoom, describes, “By adopting the WePledge program we are able to support our employees’ commitments to give back, and make it easy to make an impact both individually and as a company.”

 

Learn more about launching WePledge at your company.

 

This October, let’s support good health and wellbeing

 

Each month, we’re providing giving and volunteering opportunities aligned to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which address global challenges including poverty, hunger, well-being, climate change, justice, and education. As the UN explains, the SDGs are “the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.”

 

World Mental Health Day is celebrated annually on October 10th and is a key initiative to achieving the third Sustainable Development Goal, Good Health and Wellbeing. One in four people will experience mental illness in their lifetimes, making mental disorders among the leading causes of ill-health worldwide (WHO).

 

You can live your pledge by supporting the following mental health organizations. These global nonprofits provide crisis lines and behavioral health services, and are experiencing increased demand during the pandemic. By carrying out your pledge, you can change someone’s life.

 

 

If you or someone you know is struggling, here is a list of global crisis lines.

 

You can learn more about supporting these organizations by visiting the WePledge FAQ, and if you have other giving or volunteer ideas in support of mental health, drop us a note at wepledge1@twilio.com.

 

Take the Pledge Today

 

Are you ready to join the movement? Visit wepledge.org to sign up or text PLEDGE to 44663 (US phone numbers only). The first 10,000 eligible individuals* to sign up will have an opportunity to designate $100 to an organization helping to change the world for good.

 

We can’t wait to see the impact you build.

 

*Individuals must be 13 years or older to sign up. Residents of any country that is subject to an embargo of the United States government may sign up but will not be eligible to designate an organization to receive a $100 USD donation. Void where prohibited.