Launched in 2012, HMH Volunteer Week is a Company-wide initiative designed to engage employees and local communities around HMH’s shared values and corporate citizenship pillars: giving voice to under-served populations; promoting access to new ideas; and removing barriers to success. This year’s projects addressed a wide variety of community needs, illustrating a collective passion for curiosity and lifelong learning central to HMH’s mission. Employee engagement also nurtured partnerships and opportunities for collaboration with local nonprofits, business and organizations.
“At HMH, we believe that a healthy company is one dedicated to supporting a thriving community,” said Mary Cullinane, Chief Content Officer and EVP, Corporate Affairs, HMH. “I’m proud of the way that Volunteer Week brings colleagues together, allows us to learn from each other and from those we serve, and puts our mission of changing people’s lives by fostering passionate, curious learners into practice beyond our daily work.”
In Boston, 100 HMH employees teamed up with the Boston Celtics to brighten the environment at a local elementary school with murals, gardens and inspirational quotes, while in Florida, players from the Orlando Magic worked alongside employees to build 25 Reading Corners throughout the region. Volunteers in Dublin got creative with local students during writing and storytelling workshops, and colleagues from the Puerto Rico office, along with special guest Curious George, spent an afternoon reading and visiting with pediatric and oncology inpatients at a nearby hospital. Other projects included preparing meals for children in need, rejuvenating community centers and many hours of reading with young learners.
HMH employees benefit from two days of paid time-off per year to engage in volunteerism activities of their choice. Over the last 12 months, HMH employees have tracked over 20,000 volunteer hours across more than 300 non-profits and community organizations.
The employee volunteerism program is just one part of a dedicated corporate citizenship effort at HMH, which includes a multimillion dollar annual book donation program, employee/company gift-matching and Community Investment Councils — location-based employee committees charged with creating opportunities for colleagues to have a positive impact on the community.
About Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is a global learning company with the mission of changing people’s lives by fostering passionate, curious learners. Among the world’s largest providers of pre-K–12 education solutions and one of its longest-established publishing houses, HMH combines cutting-edge research, editorial excellence and technological innovation to improve teaching and learning environments and solve complex literacy and education challenges. HMH’s interactive, results-driven education solutions are utilized by 50 million students in over 150 countries, and its renowned and awarded novels, non-fiction, children's books and reference works are enjoyed by readers throughout the world. For more information, visit www.hmhco.com.