Bloomberg 35: Helping our global neighbors overcome crisis through humanitarian aid
December 14, 2016
As the year draws to a close, we at Bloomberg reflect on the things we are most thankful for and celebrate our work accomplishments from this year. But, it is also a time to cherish the number of lives saved and restored around the world through the partnerships and volunteerism with our charity partners.
To commemorate our company’s 35th anniversary, marked this past October, we are continuing to spotlight our non-profit partners through the Bloomberg 35 series. This time, with a special emphasis on human services organizations and featuring some personal stories of Bloomberg employees’ involvement with them.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian network, with 190 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and around 17 million volunteers.
After supporting the Red Cross for many years, in 2004 we expanded our efforts to create strategic disaster relief initiatives following the Boxing Day tsunamis in Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and India to help make a lasting difference.
Most recently, Bloomberg has helped refugees across Europe and Africa through the Red Cross, by funding its search and rescue boat, the Responder. Every month, the Responder, rescues and assists more than 1,000 people across the Mediterranean in need of post-rescue care and transportation to safety.
Bloomberg has a long history with the Red Cross, supporting the organization since 1996. Over the years, Bloomberg and our employees have donated millions of dollars to support those affected by emergencies and natural disasters.
“The work of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies hits home for me in a very personal way. In 2011, a tsunami and earthquake struck my home country of Japan, leaving millions homeless, without access to water and electricity. More than 120 of us at Bloomberg traveled overnight across seven different weekends to get to the victims and communities ravaged by the tsunami and offer our support. Volunteering left me with an unforgettable impression of the power of mother nature, as well as human nature.” – Kazu Koike, Tokyo Global Data
Veterans Aid
Veterans Aid has been helping UK ex-servicemen and women in crisis since 1932. The charity provides immediate help with issues like homelessness and addiction but is also committed to delivering long-term, sustainable solutions to a diverse range of life challenges.
With the assistance of Bloomberg and other partners, Veterans Aid helped 389 new clients, provided 22,000 nights of accommodation, housed over 180 veterans, put 48 through rehabilitation, 79 into training and education and found jobs for 64, all in year 2015.
Bloomberg has been helping the homeless in London since 2000. It began with a partnership with the UK’s national charity, Crisis, by helping to set up and operate a holiday homeless shelter on Finsbury Square near the Bloomberg London office. Throughout the years, Bloomberg has continued its aid to UK homelessness charities such as Saint Martins Connection, Simon Community and Centrepoint.
This year, Bloomberg completed its largest sustained volunteer project with Veterans Aid to refurbish a center for homeless veterans. Over a 10 month period, a total of 757 employees got involved, donating a combined total of 3,879 hours.
“As a veteran myself, I knew I had to get involved in this great cause. Although the refurbishment work was very labor intensive, all of our Bloomberg employees rolled up their sleeves and got involved. Throughout the project, I had the pleasure of meeting veterans being helped by our work and their stories were very touching. It doesn’t take much to end up homeless. In retrospect, it could very easily have been me.” – Gaz Roberts, Manager Network Operations Europe
Magen David Adom
Magen David Adom is Israel’s only national medical emergency, disaster, ambulance and blood service. Responsible for all of Israel’s first aid and emergency training, the organization provides and maintains 1,124 ambulance and mobile intensive care units, Medi-Cycles, blood mobiles command and communication vehicles and collects and supplies 254,000 units of blood each year.
In 2011, Mike Bloomberg funded a new flagship service station in Jerusalem to help the organization respond to the city’s growing and diversifying population. The project consisted of a full renovation of the Magen David Adom building and the addition of a five story wing to include a new blood center.
Since 2003, Bloomberg has supported Magen David Adom and their lifesaving services. Every year, Bloomberg employees from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem donate blood to this organization, with each pint of blood saving up to three lives.
“There is no greater act than saving a life. Magen David Adom does this every day, and has provided countless others with an opportunity to share in their ‘mitzvah’, or good deed, by becoming blood donors. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that my donation may have helped save someone!” – Alisa Odenheimer, Israel Speed Desk Reporter
Through supporting organizations that provide lifesaving and life changing services around the world, we demonstrate our commitment to making a global impact. And in the next installment, we will be highlighting our partnerships with charities dedicated to building up local communities and enriching the lives of our neighbors in need.
Read more about our earliest partnerships with global organizations and our work to advance literacy, enhance cultural understanding and improve access to healthcare in times of great distress, here.
Bloomberg LP was founded 35 years ago and helped revolutionize the financial industry – making it more fair, efficient and dynamic – and that spirit carries through into our philanthropic work. Bloomberg 35 is a series to celebrate our company’s 35th anniversary, by spotlighting 35 non-profit partners throughout the year–as well as the people at Bloomberg who help these organizations reach their goals.