New Balance Athletics, Inc. and the New Balance Foundation kicked off their 3rd annual Global Volunteer Week in support of NB SparkStart, a global charitable initiative aimed at fueling the next generation’s passion for movement and the pursuit of lifelong health, well-being and success.
NB SparkStart Global Volunteer Week efforts align directly with the NB SparkStart goal, by encouraging associates worldwide to coordinate service projects that inspire a lifetime of movement and healthy eating in kids.
New Balance factories in Skowhegan and Norridgewock, Maine will be closed today and tomorrow as over 700 associates take part in the first of this year’s Global Volunteer Week projects at North Elementary, Bloomfield Elementary, and the Skowhegan Community Center. Joining the associates from the factory will be New Balance’s senior leadership team, including President and CEO Rob DeMartini.
More than 1,500 associates from more than 50 of the company’s global locations in the United States, Canada, U.K., China, Japan, India, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, along with U.S. retail stores, will join together for nearly 90 community volunteer projects with key New Balance Foundation nonprofit grant recipients and other local children’s organizations.
Projects include updating indoor and outdoor playgrounds and play areas, creating painted running tracks, adding fitness trails,and creating inspiring playground murals. Volunteers will also build outdoor classroom and garden spaces to integrate nature into lessons about science, health, and nutrition, and provide the school and community with better access to fresh produce. Throughout the day, children will participate in recess and field day activities along with New Balance associates to keep everyone moving and having fun.
“Doing well and doing good has been deeply ingrained in the New Balance culture and mission for more than 30 years,” says Anne Davis, New Balance Vice Chairman and Executive Vice President of Administration. “We see our values come to life as our associates volunteer during Global Volunteer Week and year-round, using their resources, energy and skills to inspire children to discover and nurture their movement ‘spark’ and learn healthy habits.”
“Uniting our global associates in service reflects our deep commitment to NB SparkStart and the amazing work of the charities we support. It enables us to continue to make a significant and positive impact worldwide on the kids in our own backyards,” says Amy Sweeney, Community Outreach Manager at New Balance.
NB SparkStart aligns New Balance, Inc. and the New Balance Foundation philanthropy and responsible business practices through grants, associate volunteerism and engagement, athlete involvement, product donations, retail events and consumer engagement.
Since its inception in 1981, The New Balance Foundation has been committed to supporting causes that will make a long-lasting and sustainable change in the world. Since 2001, the Foundation’s focus has been on preventing childhood obesity through supporting research, and grassroots organizations that are teaching children how to make healthy eating choices and helping them to be more active.
Visit www.newbalance.com/NBSparkStart for stories of how New Balance associates and athletes discovered their spark and the impact it had on their lives. Follow on Twitter or Instagram at @nbgivesback #nbsparkstart.
