#corporate-philanthropy

#corporate-philanthropy

Picture this: You're getting ready for a night out, running 10 minutes behind (as usual), and putting the finishing touches on your makeup before you call your Uber. But before you go, it's time to stash essentials in your purse, like your lipstick, phone charger, condoms, perfume rollerball, and keys. For most, these are the must-haves, and for good reason: They help you feel confident and prepared - after all, keeping your lip color fresh should feel just as routine as taking care of your sexual health.

Year-end giving can be a moment of reflection, but for businesses and philanthropy alike, it should also include looking forward and asking the question, what's next? One throughline from this past year is uncertainty. Uncertainty has rewritten how we work, live, and lead. Yet, one thing that still holds true is we share a responsibility to keep systems strong so no one is left behind, especially children.

To Trina Spear, cofounder and CEO of medical apparel brand Figs, change for the healthcare industry has to start with a focus on healthcare workers. "We believe if you serve the provider, they will be able to better serve the patient," she says. "And that drives better outcomes. That drives a better healthcare system." As part of that focus, Figs gave away hundreds of thousands of scrubs, organized healthcare worker retreats, and donated some $510,000 to healthcare nonprofits in 2024 alone.

Through its Food Donation Connection (FDC) program, Wawa partners with local nonprofits that collect and distribute unsold food to community food banks, shelters, and pantries. The FDC oversees each step of the process, coordinating logistics and ensuring that every donation meets strict safety and freshness standards. What might have been discarded instead becomes a meal for local families - a simple act of kindness that strengthens the communities Wawa serves.

PBS does not operate like a traditional network such as CBS or NBC; rather, it is a collection of over 300 local member stations that independently control their programming.