International Day of Charity, celebrated annually on September 5, was established by the United Nations to encourage individuals and organizations to help others through volunteer and philanthropic activities.

At Robert Half, supporting the communities where we live and work is a year-round effort. We will recognize this important day by launching the Robert Half Cares program from August 16 to October 5 and celebrating the opportunity to connect with global colleagues and support our local communities. There are many ways for our employees and clients to get involved in the program, including virtual volunteering, fundraising for non-profits and making donations to causes they care about.

Volunteering for Individual Causes

We’re providing suggestions for ways that anyone can get involved individually. Some of these ideas include:

“Transitioning our community relations programs into virtual opportunities has had an unexpected silver lining,” said Lynne Smith, Robert Half senior vice president of human resources and compensation. “We’re able to include more people — wherever they work and live — and serve more non-profit organizations than ever before. Even if we aren’t participating side by side, we’re still working together to support our mission of being a socially responsible corporate citizen and an active participant in our communities.”

Here’s what else Robert Half Cares is doing:

Supporting Dress for Success

Robert Half Cares kicks off with our annual Suit Drive. This fundraising effort supports Dress for Success, which empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and development tools to help them thrive in work and in life. To kick off the fundraising, Robert Half has pledged the first $50,000.

In addition to fundraising:

Learn how you can help support Dress for Success’ efforts.

“Whether we’re collecting professional clothing or fundraising for Dress for Success, our Suit Drive helps people gain confidence during their job searches,” said Rita Steel, Robert Half president of professional talent solutions for West and Southwest Operations, and founder of the company’s Suit Drive. “It’s gratifying to see how excited our employees and clients are to support job seekers in need while upholding this annual tradition.”

Fundraising with Employee Network Groups

Robert Half Employee Network Groups are planning different ways to support Robert Half Cares. Some examples include:

  • Somos Familia, our Hispanic/Latinx professional network, is planning a virtual scavenger hunt and walk to benefit the Hispanic Heritage Foundation.
  • Our Black Employee Network (BEN) is organizing a virtual cocktail and cooking demonstration to raise money for Feeding America.
  • The Robert Half Global Women’s Employee Network (GWENis organizing a team to participate in the global Dress for Success Power Walk.
  • Belong, our LGBTQIA+ employee network group, is fundraising for the It Gets Better Project.
  • Asian Professionals for Excellence (APEX) is supporting Ascend’s Feed Our Future program, which partners with Pan-Asian restaurant owners to feed underrepresented communities.

"We are proud to work with many outstanding organizations focused on diversity, equity and inclusion," said Alfredo Mendez, vice president of employee experience for Robert Half. "The interest our employees have demonstrated in engaging with our Employee Network Groups and learning about issues related to diversity and equality has been significant. I’m inspired by their commitment to supporting these causes."

Engaging with Non-profit Partners

Over the years, Robert Half has built relationships with non-profit organizations that support our focus on education and workforce development. During Robert Half Cares, some of these activities include:

  • Helping Enactus students prepare for career success with resume reviews and mock interviews.
  • Supporting Dress for Success clients during virtual coaching sessions focused on professional networking.
  • Attending a virtual Disaster Preparedness Training, hosted by Robert Half and the Red Cross.
  • Learning about the Canadian Mental Health Association’s many volunteer needs and getting involved.

Joining Forces for a Good Cause

Most of our employees are still working remotely, but teams and individuals from our Corporate Services offices in Canada and the U.S. are spending time together while volunteering virtually. Some of the planned projects include creating no-sew blankets for pet shelters, helping high school students with video projects and making wellness calls to home-bound seniors.

Collaborating on the Round the World Challenge

In Canada, we’re joining Robert Half teams across the world to plan activities to benefit Make-A-Wish, starting on International Day of Charity. Other events being planned include bake sales, raffles and virtual stores.

“It’s exciting that our international offices are joining forces for a great cause,” said Greg Scileppi, Robert Half president of international business. “It’s inspiring to see 18 countries come together as individuals, teams and a global community to support Make-A-Wish and their mission to fulfil the wishes of children with critical illness.”

For more information on Robert Half Cares or the company’s corporate citizenship programs, see the Corporate Responsibility section of our website.