Booz Allen Hamilton's Earth Month Collections Keep Growing!
In 2015 the Sustainability Program Management Office (PMO) at Booz Allen Hamilton, a technology and management consulting firm, coordinated and conducted their first collection of gently-used plastic toys at their McLean, VA headquarters. Since then, enthusiasm for the program has continued to spread to its many offices throughout the United States. Now in its fourth year, involvement surpassed all expectations, with 21 different collections taking place in 10 different states plus the District of Columbia. As a result of the coordinated effort, nearly 2,000 toys were collected and donated to 21 organizations around the country.
McLean and 1-800-GOT-JUNK? Volunteers
"This has proven to be a great program for Booz Allen, for its employee volunteers, and for the communities in which we work," notes Booz Allen Director of Sustainability Elizabeth Wayt. "It not only generates a team bonding experience for our employees to work together, but it gives everyone the satisfaction of seeing that they are directly helping local children in need and the environment at the same time.”
Boston Volunteers
In order to conduct a program this size, it took the coordinated efforts of several dedicated individuals at Booz Allen. Harika Dyer, Booz Allen’s sustainability project manager, led the internal coordination team. Melinda Ali, executive assistant, and Phoebe Stinson, associate, managed the participating offices while Sherry Marin Altman, vice president of the firm’s Innovation and Growth Strategy, provided guidance based on previous participation.
San Francisco Volunteers
"We really focused our efforts this year on promoting this community service opportunity by reaching out to the various offices and internal groups within Booz Allen," remarked Dyer. "As a result, participation grew exponentially this year and we had offices represented coast to coast!"
Rome Volunteers
Each office took a unique approach to their collection of gently used plastic toys. Some decorated and placed their collection boxes in visible areas around the office; some coordinated their collection and cleaning efforts with the Take Your Children to Work Day initiative; others involved their childcare programs to collect; and still other offices went as far as dividing into teams to create some friendly competition. No matter the individual strategy that each office employed, the results were a resounding success!
Second Chance Toys is very grateful for the enthusiasm and camaraderie that is clearly on display at Booz Allen during Earth Month. Additionally, we are most grateful to the firm for recognizing our mission with a very generous grant. Their generosity continues to help us generate programs in support of disadvantaged children and the environment.
Thank you Booz Allen Hamilton!
