Giving
One of our core values is to do well by doing good.
For us, that means supporting nonprofits and philanthropic causes as individuals and as an agency. By nature, we are “connectors,” bringing people together to make things happen. That also applies to the communities where we live and work, as we donate time and money to improve the quality of life in the cities where we’re located, with a particular passion for ending homelessness.
We encourage employees to take advantage of our volunteer program, which allows them to donate one day each year to volunteering on behalf of causes they are passionate about—without having to dip into vacation time. We also partner with our colleagues to make a positive local impact, whether that involves volunteering in a homeless shelter or food bank, raising money for cancer research, cleaning up city blocks, or tending to a community garden.
The secret to living is giving.
— Tony Robbins
"Squeeze It In" Campaign
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and early detection is key to saving lives. JConnelly teamed up with our friends at LUDWIG+ to activate our new "Squeeze It In" campaign to encourage women to get screened for breast cancer. For the campaign, we released dozens of pairs of pink balloons in key locations throughout New York and Chicago, challenged influencers to encourage their followers to take 15 minutes to get a mammogram and launched a landing page featuring eye-catching pairs of images like clocks and eggs to create a powerful image and call to action.
A Million Thanks
JConnelly partnered with A Million Thanks to send special letters to our troops. A Million Thanks collects and distributes letters of thanks and support and sends them directly to our active, reserve, and veteran military. They also grant betterment of life wishes, as well as providing higher education scholarships to military children. We were honored to participate in such an admirable program.
Trash Pick Up at the Jersey Shore
In support of the great work our colleague Tony Kono has done in cleaning our environment and communities, we had the opportunity to help him pick up trash at the Jersey Shore. Even the small things we do can make a huge impact!
Share Our Spare
As babies and children grow, the clothing and other essentials they outgrow can give warmth and comfort to those who need them. Share Our Spare, which collects new and slightly used clothes and other items for less fortunate babies and children in the Chicago area, understands that somebody’s extras can be someone else’s essentials. A few employees from our Chicago office spent a day volunteering at the Share Our Spare "Sharehouse," sorting clothes, toiletries, food and toys. They also donated $100 worth of baby essentials, including diapers, lotion, and wipes.
Community Connections
One of our clients, Invest In Others, organizes “Community Connections” events, which provide financial advisors and other members of the financial services industry with opportunities to work together to be a force for good in their communities—a mission in alignment with the culture we foster at JConnelly. Megan Snyder of JConnelly’s New Jersey office recently joined Invest In Others volunteers in preparing and serving nutritious meals to our less fortunate neighbors in a warm, safe environment at the Community Soup Kitchen of Morristown.
The Trash Man of Brick
JConnelly’s Tony Kono began dedicating himself to picking up roadside litter in Brick, N.J., where he lives, after Hurricane Sandy devastated the area in 2012. Tony, who has dubbed himself "The Trash Man of Brick," volunteers as Chairman of the Brick Township Environmental Commission, and devotes time about once a week to collecting trash on part of the township’s main roadway connecting to the Jersey Shore. Tony chose this spot because most plastic waste left on roads near beaches eventually end up in the ocean, causing far greater ecological damage. Tony embodies JConnelly’s commitment to serving others with purpose and passion.
Together We Rise
JConnelly’s culture emphasizes collaboration in the spirit of something greater than ourselves. Our entire team came together in our New Jersey office, and spent half a work day pooling our creative energy to decorate bags that foster children can use to transport their belongings when they are placed in a new foster home. These bags were prepared for Together We Rise, a nonprofit which seeks to improve the experience of foster care for children as much as possible.