Today, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is more important than ever. Whether it’s providing aid during or after a crisis, advocating for the environment, helping food insecure individuals, or empowering women, corporate social responsibility not only positively impacts a cause or community, but also gives businesses a competitive edge.
At Aspen- and Fort Lauderdale-based public relations agency Durée & Company, we know that corporate social responsibility is a crucial part of any brand strategy, especially in times of need. A company that shows it cares not only sets itself apart from its competitors, but also attracts new business prospects and engages employees.
When disaster strikes
When a crisis or disaster happens, it’s of the utmost importance for local businesses to show their support. For example, when the horrific June 24, 2021 collapse of the Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida happened, we at Durée & Company made our corporate social responsibility efforts a priority. Our clients and friends did as well.
For example, our friend Orlando Bravo, founder and managing partner of Thoma Bravo, announced a $250,000 donation from his foundation, the Bravo Family Foundation, to the Support Surfside fund. Created by The Miami HEAT and Miami HEAT Charitable Fund, The Miami Foundation, The Coral Gables Community Foundation, The Key Biscayne Community Foundation and other partners, #SupportSurfside had a goal to provide relief for those impacted by the building collapse. The Bravo Family Foundation’s donation supports temporary housing for displaced families and therapy for victims.
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett and The Miami HEAT’s Director of Community Affairs Steve Stowe were on site. They the Surfside Community Center to accept the Bravo Family Foundation’s donation from Orlando Bravo.
Monetary donations to #SupportSurfside can be made at supportsurfside.org.
In addition, we coordinated with Steve Stowe and our client Thoma Bravo to underwrite the delivery of 80 bags of ice per day, for a month to support anguished firefighters, first responders, and search and rescue teams onsite at Surfside, and for the investigations team stationed in Doral. Feeding South Florida, a member of the Feeding America network of food banks stepped in to lend a hand. As the leading domestic hunger-relief organization serving Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe Counties, it delivered the ice daily in its refrigerated trucks.
Help comes in many forms
Our client Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade offered enrollment at its 2021 in-person Summer Camp to children from the Champlain Towers buildings at no cost. The children could attend summer camp at any of Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade’s four locations.
Kicking in to help with what it does best, our client Feeding South Florida® coordinated and provided the logistics for the donation of various items after the Champlain Tower collapse in Surfside. The nonprofit is in direct, consistent contact with the Town of Surfside, The American Red Cross and Volunteer Florida. In fact, Feeding South Florida is accepting high-priority items at its Pembroke Park warehouse.
We worked with our client Eat Me Guilt Free and Toast Distillers, Inc., to coordinate and deliver Eat Me Guilt Free’s packaged food products, Toast H20 water, D&Co hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes to the reporters who were onsite covering the Surfside tragedy, and local television stations including WSVN-FOX 7, WSFL-TV, WFOR-CBS 4, WTVJ-NBC 6 Telemundo and Univision.
In an effort to provide support, emotional wellness and relief to help those impacted, our client Segal Zuckerman, P.A. sponsored a free virtual yoga session, during which attendees were encouraged to donate to the Surfside victims at SupportSurfside.com.
Do what you can
The efforts of these organizations and many others after the Champlain Towers South collapse in Surfside make things clear. In a time of need, there is a way for any type of industry to lend a helping hand. This sense of corporate social responsibility can bring light in difficult times, and it won’t go unnoticed.
If you’d like to learn more about how Durée & Company can help establish a corporate social responsibility campaign for your brand, or learn more about how to be a part of the relief efforts for the Champlain Towers South collapse in Surfside, contact us at Durée & Company.
About Durée & Company, Inc.
Durée & Company, Inc. is an award-winning, full-service public relations, marketing and special events firm founded in 1999. The firm has offices in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Aspen, Colorado. Durée & Company serves the corporate, agency and nonprofit arenas for local, national and international clients. Services include public relations, social media, marketing, digital marketing, content development, advertising, special events, branding, radio promotions, affiliate marketing and more. Durée & Company clients include well-known names in yachting, business, real estate, hospitality, travel, health and wellness, cannabis and psychedelics, art and culture, fashion, nonprofit organizations, cryptocurrency and technology, legal and professional services. Durée & Company is a member of PR Boutiques International™ (PRBI), an international network of boutique PR firms. To learn more, call 954-723-9350; go to dureeandcompany.com; cannabismarketingpr.com; or psychedelicpr.com. Join the social conversation and follow Durée & Company on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn at @DureeCoPR.
