Verizon works on their volunteer hours remotely throughout the year.

Summary

Verizon has made a commitment to dedicate 2.5 million volunteer hours by 2025 to address digital inclusion, climate protection, and human prosperity.  They chose to partner with Fleece & Thank You, to comfort children in the hospital and to offer employees a safe and convenient way to volunteer.  Verizon recognized the negative impact of the COVID19 pandemic on hospital visitation and mental health, and saw the need to help battle social isolation via the color, comfort, and connection of fleece blankets and personalized video messages of encouragement.   

Testimonial
“Our partnership with Fleece & Thank You has provided Verizon employees with a fun and fulfilling platform to connect with our colleagues from around the world and join together to make a difference in the lives of children. The team at Fleece & Thank You did an incredible job of engaging and communicating with our volunteers” – Brianna Ellison, Local Government Affairs & Community Engagement Director – Verizon

Challenge

During the pandemic, options for volunteering dwindled, as people were restricted from in-person, to social distancing and working from home.  Verizon looked to Fleece & Thank You as a means to help their employees around the country volunteer safely from their homes. 

Event Logistics

   We built Verizon a custom ordering site, where employees could order blanket kits and have them shipped directly to their home. Employees paid $25 for each blanket kit, and Verizon matched employee donations.  Each kit included a return label, so once blankets were completed, they were re-sealed in their bags and sent back to Fleece & Thank You.  All of this was done without the need to step foot outside of the home. Each employee completed blankets on their own, at a time that worked best for their schedule. 

   This continues as an ongoing volunteer opportunity throughout the year, with a steady stream of blankets being ordered and children’s smiles being made. 

Key Numbers

• Blankets Made: 304
• Volunteers Reached: 236
• Timeframe to set up and execute– 2 weeks from Verizon request to having approved custom website made and internal Verizon email communications to employees. Each order takes between 2-8 days to arrive.
• Event Costs– $7,600 + Shipping for blankets