Franklin Templeton Employees Move to Virtual Volunteering

Franklin Templeton’s business resource groups (BRGs) have transitioned to virtual volunteering, supporting worthwhile causes this holiday season.

“Our employees are generous and have a great deal of compassion all year long. The holiday season is always a time when, even more than usual, people think about those less fortunate and want to give back to their communities. During this unique year, our employees have again shown great support and virtually participated in a number of events benefiting local organizations,” said Kristin Kosmides, the company’s head of global citizenship.

Franklin Templeton’s HOLA BRG, which represents Hispanic / Latino employees, has partnered with La Familia Counseling Center for the third year in a row to sponsor Adopt-A-Child, an annual program that provides gifts to children and their families in Sacramento, California, USA. Over 90 families have been adopted from the area in partnership with La Familia.

Employees in Franklin Templeton’s Poznan, Poland office organized “Swiateczna Paczka / Christmas Gift,” an annual initiative to support local charities, orphanages and nursing homes. Employees engaged in multiple volunteer opportunities, including online auctions, drives to collect toiletries and used laptops, and virtual fundraisers.

To support current members of the U.S. military as well as veterans, Franklin Templeton’s Veterans BRG formed a partnership with Soldiers’ Angels. Volunteers donated needed items and cards for 300 holiday stockings to be delivered to Veterans Affairs hospitals and deployed service members.

Additionally, to honor and remember those who served, Franklin Templeton sponsored Wreaths Across America, providing funding for 100 wreaths to be placed at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C. At the same time, the Veterans BRG coordinated an employee campaign to raise funds to donate wreaths to national cemeteries of their choosing.

“This year, there has been a big increase in the number of families in need around the world. Our employees and their kind-hearted support of these worthwhile programs has made a difference in the lives of many people,” Kosmides concluded.

About Franklin Templeton’s BRGs

The BRGs bring a critical perspective and value to our business through strategic initiatives. BRGs create shared experience among colleagues by providing opportunities to network, collaborate, contribute insights on business initiatives and support colleagues through mentorship and open dialogue. Our BRGs include: 

ABLE: Uniting and supporting individuals whose lives are impacted by disabilities. 

BEN: Facilitating the success of people of African descent and their allies by enriching their professional lives, creating connections and promoting an inclusive environment. 

HOLA: Facilitating the professional and personal growth of Hispanic / Latino employees and allies. 

PRIDE: Promoting an inclusive environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer employees and allies; encouraging authenticity and respect while valuing differences in communities where we live and work. 

VETERANS: Honoring soldiers' sacrifices and commitments by supporting veterans, active duty members and allies. 

WOMEN: Providing a platform to encourage, inspire and support women in their careers. 

About Franklin Templeton

Franklin Resources, Inc. [NYSE:BEN] is a global investment management organization with subsidiaries operating as Franklin Templeton and serving clients in over 165 countries. Franklin Templeton’s mission is to help clients achieve better outcomes through investment management expertise, wealth management and technology solutions. Through its specialist investment managers, the Company brings extensive capabilities in equity, fixed income, multi-asset solutions and alternatives. With offices in more than 30 countries and approximately 1,300 investment professionals, the California-based company has over 70 years of investment experience and approximately $1.5 trillion in assets under management as of November 30, 2020. For more information, please visit franklinresources.com.