Timberland celebrated the 25th anniversary of its Path of Service program by kicking off a season of volunteer events around the globe. The events will reinforce the brand’s commitment to be Earthkeepers by working to protect and restore the outdoors and support the communities where it does business.
To mark this milestone, the brand will lead various service initiatives throughout August, September and October, including its annual Serv-a-palooza and Urban Greening events, while also encouraging consumers to find volunteer opportunities in their own communities through VolunteerMatch.org.
“At Timberland, service is a way of life – we’ve done a lot in 25 years, and we’re just getting started,” said Jim Pisani, global brand president for Timberland. “Through the service events and activities this season, we will not only add value to communities around the world; we will also provide meaningful leadership and development opportunities for our employees, while building strong relationships with our business and community partners.”
Timberland created the Path of Service program in 1992 to give employees paid time to serve their communities and encourage them to become proactive agents of service in and out of the office. The program started with 16 hours, and today offers employees up to 40 hours of paid time to serve. Throughout the year, Timberland employees skip work guilt-free to volunteer in a variety of ways, including company-sponsored events and individual opportunities that speak to their own passions. This year, Timberland will mark the anniversary milestone by reflecting on the incredible work achieved over the last 25 years, and calling on employees and consumers to keep serving.
Timberland is encouraging consumers to find opportunities in their communities through VolunteerMatch.org. The brand launched a digital campaign designed to reach consumers, playing off the idea of making new connections and building lasting relationships with a tongue-in-cheek video suggestive of an online dating app. Based on personal preferences, VolunteerMatch.org connects people with volunteer opportunities that suit their needs, skills and interests in their communities.
The brand hosted a volunteer fair for employees earlier this summer to spark participation in a 25-day challenge, which encouraged them to use their paid time to serve in meaningful ways.
In September and October, an estimated 1,500 Timberland employees and business partners worldwide will celebrate the brand’s Serv-a-palooza initiative where employees serve in their communities. In the U.S., Timberland will close its headquarters on September 14 and more than 325 volunteers will collectively serve at seven projects in Manchester, New Hampshire.
To close the season in October, Timberland will continue its commitment to double its retail footprint in five U.S. cities by 2020 with green space, with a community restoration project in Philadelphia. Timberland volunteers, business partners and local consumers will work on The Rail Park Project to help transform unused elevated tracks of the Reading Railroad into new urban green space for all to enjoy in Center City.
To read about Timberland’s most memorable service moments from the past 25 years, and to learn more about the brand’s commitments to make products responsibly, protect the outdoors and support communities around the globe, visit timberland.com/responsibility.
Photo courtesy Timberland
