UM's Third Annual Global Impact Day Goes Virtual

NEW YORK, July 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- UM, the global media agency network of IPG Mediabrands, today announced the launch of its third global, first-ever virtual Impact Day. Over 100 UM offices will close to give employees the day to volunteer their time and resources to philanthropic organizations around the world. Originally launched in 2016 under UM's corporate social responsibility initiative, Better World, the agency's annual day of service represents its core values of Care and Community. UM employees will share Impact Day content on social media using the hashtags #UMBetterWorld and #UMImpactDay.

"Our Better World team has carefully pivoted Impact Day into a virtual experience to ensure safety for our employees while still empowering them to make an impact in their communities," said Eileen Kiernan, Global CEO, UM. "Our activities this year are focused around the most relevant issues we are facing as a global community, and we look forward to taking action. With arms virtually locked and eyes forward, we will build a better tomorrow, today."

After its US launch in 2016, Impact Day was globalized in 2018 when, over the span of 36 hours and six continents, nearly 5,000 volunteers gathered within their respective communities to restore public gardens, beautify facilities for war veterans, revitalize local parks, protect endangered wildlife, assist elderly residents, pack school bags with supplies for children and more. The Better World platform unites the family of UM offices under a single umbrella to inspire each other, share best practices and create connections across borders that lead to a better world.

This year, UM has identified three pillars – People, Pandemic and Planet – as the focal points of all Impact Day activities. The "People" pillar will focus on actions that combat racial injustice and support social equality; activities within the "Pandemic" pillar will assist with COVID-19 relief efforts; and "Planet" pillar activities will focus on sustainability and environmental advocacy.

"Impact Day has become an integral part of the DNA at UM, bonding employees to each other, to the agency and to their communities," said Anthony Hello, Senior Vice President and Better World Global Chair, UM. "At this moment in culture, as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and issues around social inequity and racial justice around the world, caring for our communities is more essential than ever. The question I hear from my colleagues every day is, 'How can I help?' The answer is that we can continue to give back – safely, resiliently and with an eye to justice."

UM employees will participate in projects of their own choosing across EMEA, APAC, LATAM and North America, such as:

• Supporting and promoting Black-owned businesses and mentoring Class of 2020 Black graduates in the U.S.
• Creating personal hygiene kits for the homeless in Greece
• Raising money through home exercise for people with disabilities in Mexico
• Packaging and delivering groceries to the less fortunate in Italy with local NGOs
• Donating blood to the Thai Red Cross Society in Thailand
• Walking, cycling or jogging to raise money for COVID-19 relief in Germany
• Supporting young people of the LGBTQ+ community in association with Le Refuge in France
• Delivering essential supplies to employees of the Ruijin Hospital in China

About UM
UM is a global media agency committed to creating better outcomes for clients. We deliver science through the transformational power of business analytics and real-time data intelligence. We deliver art through creating moments that matter in media to generate momentum for brands. As the leading global media network in IPG Mediabrands, UM operates in over 100 countries, with more than 5,000 people innovating on a roster of global clients, including Accenture, American Express, BMW, Coca-Cola, ExxonMobil, Fitbit, GoPro, Johnson & Johnson, Levi Strauss & Co, Sony, Spotify and The Hershey Company. For more information, please visit https://www.umww.com/. 

SOURCE UM