Ameriprise Financial (NYSE: AMP), along with its subsidiary, Columbia Threadneedle Investments, is adapting its longstanding volunteer program so its employees and advisors can give back to communities that face immediate need while adhering to local health and safety guidelines. As the firm approaches its annual National Day of Service, which in past years brought together thousands of volunteers to work side-by-side at food banks, Ameriprise is decentralizing the event and encouraging employees and advisors to show kindness to their friends, neighbors and community members by participating in activities like cleaning up streets, delivering groceries and thanking healthcare workers. Time spent on acts of kindness is eligible for the eight hours of paid time off employees receive each year for volunteerism.
“Between the COVID-19 pandemic, George Floyd’s tragic death and the ongoing racial injustice black and minority Americans face, communities in the U.S. and around the world are hurting,” said Brian Pietsch, head of Community Relations at Ameriprise. “At the same time, we’re seeing people who want to come together to help but don’t know exactly where to turn. I’m proud of the way we’ve been able to evolve our volunteer efforts to help nonprofits and bring a sense of togetherness to our communities at large as well as our employees and advisors.”
In addition, Ameriprise financial advisors will host virtual food drives across the country throughout the month of June in partnership with Feeding America and other local food banks in their communities.
Company announces additional $300,000 in donations to help communities
Ameriprise has a long history of supporting low income and diverse communities and is committed to being part of the solution in Minneapolis and across the country. To provide immediate support in Minneapolis, the firm is announcing a $150,000 donation split equally between the following:
- Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ), which aims to address multi-generational poverty
- The Minneapolis Foundation Fund for Safe Communities, which supports justice and equity
- Twin Cities Rebuild for the Future Fund via The Minneapolis Foundation, which will work to rebuild small businesses in corridors directly impacted by the unrest in Minneapolis.
The company is also pledging additional COVID-19 relief donations totaling $150,000 to nonprofits where it has a large employee presence – the Minnesota Disaster Recovery Fund, New York Robin Hood Foundation, Boston Resiliency Fund, Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund in India and City Harvest London. The firm made its first wave of $125,000 hunger-relief grants at the beginning of the crisis, while it also accelerated its corporate donation schedule, making more than $2.5 million available immediately to nonprofits it supports. See the company’s previous announcement here.
About Ameriprise Financial
At Ameriprise Financial, we have been helping people feel confident about their financial future for more than 125 years. With a network of approximately 10,000 financial advisors and extensive asset management, advisory and insurance capabilities, we have the strength and expertise to serve the full range of consumer financial needs. For more information, visit ameriprise.com.
About Ameriprise Financial Community Relations
Ameriprise Financial is dedicated to utilizing the firm’s resources and talents to improve the lives of individuals and build strong communities. Through grants, volunteerism and employee and advisor gift matching programs, the company supports a diverse group of over 7,500 nonprofits across the country. In 2019, Ameriprise employees and advisors contributed nearly 100,000 volunteer hours to nonprofits nationwide.
About Feeding America
Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, they provide meals to more than 40 million people each year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people they serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
1Source: Feeding America data as of May 28, 2020
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200605005479/en/
Contacts:
612-678-7183
Alison.g.mueller@ampf.com
