Citizen Philanthropy in Action – Embracing The Future of Work and Supporting Local Communities

At VMware, we believe everyone has something unique to contribute to our society. Our culture of service influences the way we interact with others - inside and outside of work. As such, we are all Citizen Philanthropists, empowered to support what is most meaningful to us through VMware Foundation programs. VMware's culture of service is a key pillar of the equity outcomes of VMware's 2030 Agenda, as Citizen Philanthropy provides equal access to VMware's charitable resources for all VMware people around the world.

With The Future of Work, VMware is building a dynamic, global workforce where our people may work from any location, in line with business requirements, that accelerates their productivity to deliver innovative solutions for our customers. All VMware people have access to the right technology, collaboration capabilities, and work practices to help them do their best work - individually or together with colleagues.

This month we checked in with the current lead of our Brazil Giving Network, Rafael Perdigão, who is based at his home office in Curitiba, Brazil:

Rafael: I have been at VMware for more than seven years now, and I started participating in the VMware Foundation's programs since my first days with the company. As Service Learning initiatives were organized from the São Paulo office I tried to participate as often as possible, as well as help to replicate it in my hometown as well, since I work remotely. During my first year, a group of colleagues organized a visit to an orphanage in our town, where we brought the supplies they needed, some food for a party and spent the day with the children, telling stories, playing games, and celebrating one of children's birthday. It was that same year that I also started to be a regular blood donor, and from then on, I often arranged Service Learning initiatives with blood donation campaigns.

Some recent Service Learning initiatives that I am particularly proud to support include: working with the Associação Casa Clube (Association for the Support and Development of Needy People - AADPC), Children's Day Events with CASA SOS Amor in the Cajuru neighborhood, as well as a Diaper Donation Campaign for GRAAC (hospital specializing in the treatment of childhood cancer) - this initiative was organized by our Brazil Giving Network and we collected almost 7,000 diapers for the institution.

I feel that VMware is very supportive of their employees' engagement in community initiatives. I had never worked for a company that supported me in this way, so intensely and sincerely. This culture ends up impacting and leading us to be even more engaged, and this reflects on me personally, as I realize that I am more and more involved with the fight for a better society, less unequal, where people can live with dignity.

We have already completed quite a few activities this year and we have already started to think about a calendar of Service Learning events for the rest of the year through our Brazil Giving Network, which I am now leading. I hope to be even more engaged, participating in Team Service Learning events as soon as possible; trying to be an amplifier for more colleagues to take action!

Read more stories from our #WeAreCitizenPhilanthropists Series by following the hashtag on LinkedIn & Instagram