Company
Date Published
Author
Natasha Whitledge
Word count
991
Language
English
Hacker News points
None

Summary

The Global Week of Service at Twilio, a virtual event for employees to volunteer, was reimagined due to the challenges posed by the pandemic. Despite these obstacles, nearly 1,700 volunteers participated in various virtual events, connecting with 115 nonprofit organizations and contributing over 1,500 hours of high-value volunteer time. To make the event successful, Twilio incorporated creative engagement strategies such as leveraging pro bono volunteerism, offering a variety of virtual events that catered to different personas and interests, and broadening the definition of volunteering to include options like donations and learning opportunities. Leadership support was also crucial, with employees encouraged to participate and feel part of something bigger. The event's success highlights the potential for virtual volunteering to enact meaningful change, even in challenging times.