We recognized the opportunity to build a strategic approach to our corporate philanthropy, employee volunteerism and supplier diversity program to provide our dispersed workforce equal access to contributing to the wellbeing of the communities in which we live and work.

At Vitiello Communications Group (VTLO), serving our community is an integral part of our culture. Inspired by the company’s GRIT values of Growth, Respect, Integrity and Teamwork, and in support of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, VTLO Cares emphasizes four cause areas – Education and Economic Empowerment, Equality and Diversity, Environmental Stewardship and Employee Volunteering.

In 2020, VTLO celebrates its 30th anniversary. To recognize this milestone, we set a goal to donate to World Vision for every hour VTLO team members volunteered in 2019 and 2020, up to 150 hours. We met that goal! VTLO will help provide clean water access for 30 people in Rwanda under World Vision's clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) initiative.

We presented our first annual VTLO Cares Volunteer of the Year Award to the employee who logged the highest number of volunteer hours among VTLO colleagues. The company made a donation to the non-profit organization of the winner’s choice. In 2019, the gift benefited the United Way of Southern Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Last year, VTLO announced the expansion of its #GivingTuesday activities with donations made to several non-profits in honor of its clients and employees. And, VTLO supported an innovative pilot program in partnership with the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey (VACNJ). Using the Cultures and Literacies Through Art for the 21st century (CALTA21) model, the initiative equips public school educators to use contemporary art in teaching language and literacy to students for whom English is a second language.

As a certified woman-owned, small business, VTLO enhanced its own supplier diversity process, ensuring the inclusion of suppliers with certifications from organizations such as Women’s Business Enterprise National Council; National Minority Supplier Development Council; National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce; National Veteran Business Development Council; and the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

In one year, VTLO colleagues invested 317 volunteer hours in the community organizations and non-profits in their own communities. The company made charitable donations to local and global organizations aligned with its four cause areas equaling approximately five percent of net profits. We sourced three new diverse suppliers.

Brian Keefer