Sustainability December 06, 2024
The Bright Side: Gildan Employees Give 3,800 Hours During Volunteer Month
The Counselor Top 40 supplier said about 670 employees across the planet dedicated their time to everything from reforestation efforts to helping local students in need.
Key Takeaways
• Doing Good: About 670 Gildan (asi/56842) employees volunteered 3,800 hours globally during the company’s inaugural volunteer month.
• Hands On: Activities included reforestation, packing care kits and supporting students with supplies.
• Foundational Values: Gildan said the initiatives reflect its commitment to community respect and sustainability.
Over the course of eight days, Nicaragua-based employees of Counselor Top 40 supplier Gildan (asi/56842) volunteered their time to plant about 7,500 forest and grafted citrus trees on three partner farms as part of a sustainability-driven reforestation initiative.
It was just one of many giveback efforts that Gildan employees across the planet participated in as part of the company’s inaugural Global Employee Volunteer Month.
Overall, about 670 employees from Canada, the United States, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Bangladesh, Nicaragua and Australia dedicated a combined 3,800 hours of volunteer time to good causes, the Montreal-headquartered apparel manufacturer announced on Dec. 5 – International Volunteer Day.
“This initiative was a testament to Gildan’s commitment to operating with respect for our communities,” said Claudia Sandoval, vice president of global social compliance and environmental affairs at Gildan. “We are confident that this annual celebration will only continue to deepen a collective sense of giving among our global workforce and help make important strides toward our Next Generation ESG strategy’s goal of creating long-term value within our communities."
In alphabetical order by country, here’s what Gildan employees got up to:
Australia
In partnership with nonprofit Good360, Gildan’s Australian team members packed care kits filled with vital clothing for communities in need. Good360 provides essential products and services to smaller charities and nonprofits.
Bangladesh
Gildan’s Bangladesh employees volunteered with two organizations – Bashbari Government Primary School and Zamia Yakubia Habibia Dendabor. Through the effort, the workers provided more than 500 students with school supplies, hygiene packs, first-aid kits and other necessities.
Learn More About Promo’s Charitable Initiatives
The Do-Gooders Directory, part of ASI Media’s Promo for the Planet resource hub, is an extensive and regularly updated list of supplier and distributor giveback programs, corporate social responsibility initiatives and sustainability certifications here.
Canada
Employees from Gildan’s head office assembled book bags and wrote inspirational notes for 110 children, encouraging them to undertake educational journeys. The Gildaners did the work through a partnership with First Book Canada, an organization dedicated to providing educational equity by creating home libraries.
Dominican Republic
Gildan employees helped support more than 3,500 students from 12 sponsored schools with much-needed school supplies by participating in games and distributing kits to help the kids prepare for the school year.
Honduras
As part of the 11-year partnership between Gildan and World Vision Honduras, Gildan team members from Honduras spent a day with nearly 100 students from Choloma, Villanueva and Quimistán, promoting environmental education. “Volunteers organized friendly games and contests around environmental topics, fostering love for nature among the younger generations,” Gildan said.
Nicaragua
Beyond the aforementioned tree planting, employees collaborated with local producers and institutions to provide technical training to ensure responsible and effective planting practices.
United States
Gildan employees in the Carolinas joined up with two organizations, The Last Dons and Charleston Promise Neighborhood, to pack backpacks with essential school supplies and distribute them to local schools. The effort supported more than 2,200 local students.
“Employees from Gildan’s yarn facilities also engaged in a wide array of activities in their communities, including distributing backpacks and supplies to students in need; organizing a Relay For Life fundraiser to support the American Cancer Society; and volunteering at the Rescue Ranch, an organization providing permanent shelter to rescue animals,” the supplier noted.
Based on estimated 2023 North American promotional product revenue of $739.3 million, Gildan ranked fourth on Counselor’s most recent list of the largest suppliers in the industry. Gildan leaders say that corporate social responsibility and sustainability efforts are foundational to how the company operates, documented in the firm’s annual ESG report.
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