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WBD Gives Back Through Volunteering
November 29, 2021
At WBD we are proud of the diverse skillsets and interests our employees bring. They also have an array of passions and hobbies outside of work. Many of these passions translate into volunteer positions. As part of WBD Gives Back Month, we wanted to emphasize the importance of giving back beyond monetary donations by highlighting some of our teammates that are currently giving their time and energy to volunteer work at various organizations. We wanted to celebrate our selfless WBD’ers who go an extra step to help out many organizations in our community and serve as an inspiration to us all.
Employee: Noa Farkash
Organization: Lost Angels, & Gift of Life
Homelessness in America is a huge issue that often does not get enough attention. One of the ways that Noa Farkash tries to help people experiencing homelessness is donating food and helping distribute it in the Los Angeles area around major holidays with Lost Angels, a Los Angeles-area organization. For almost a decade Noa has been doing this in her local community for Thanksgiving and Christmas morning.
Noa also avidly volunteers with Gift of Life, an organization that helps patients with blood cancers or diseases to find a bone marrow match. Thank you, Noa, for helping your local community both during the holidays, and throughout the year!
Employee: Jess Lewis
Organization: My Sister’s Place
Each Christmas Jess volunteers at Baltimore City Women’s Center, “My Sister’s Place,” a day shelter for women and children experiencing homelessness. They provide the food through generous donations, cook the food, set the tables, serve, clean up, and chat with the women who’ve come for their Christmas Day meal. “A large part of Judaism is “tzedakah,” which is the Hebrew word for philanthropy and charity, so giving back to my community is something that’s always been very important to me,” Jess explains. “Since I don’t celebrate Christmas, but I know this is a very important holiday for many, I always try to give my time, so others are able to celebrate.” The women and children in the shelter can get a nice, hot meal on Christmas Day and spend it together. Thank you, Jess, for helping the women and children in your community.
Employee: Scott Caldwell
Organization: various Veterans organizations
As a veteran, Scott Caldwell has led this charge both within the firm and outside of the office to give back to the local Veteran community. At WBD, Scott has organized food and clothes drives for US Vets. He also organizes an annual Wreaths Across America event in which the firm donates one wreath per employee and lays them in Arlington National Cemetery. Away from the office, Scott also sponsors Disabled American Veterans, sponsors events to feed D.C. homeless Veterans, and has been a tutor with “Everybody Wins!” Thank you Scott for continuing to support a cause that is important to all of us here at WBD.
Employee: Leanne Reisz
Organization: Compass Probono and BUILD DC
Compass connects business professionals with local non-profits to offer strategic guidance that transforms our community. In her three years with Compass, Leanne has provided marketing advisory, strategic alignment, and sustainability analysis services to four local non-profits. ”By pairing your professional passions with local non-profits, you are able to make a larger, more sustainable impact on an organization’s mission and the community,” shared Leanne.
BUILD DC uses entrepreneurship-based, experiential learning to ignite the potential of youth in under-resourced communities and equip them for high school, college, and career success. “I would not be where I am today without my mentors at a young age and in my career today. Extending that entrepreneurial mentorship to others is an incredibly rewarding experience,” shared Leanne. Thank you Leanne for being such a great mentor and inspiring the younger generation.