Venture Philanthropy: UPS Championing Road Safety

Every day, UPS links millions of organizations and individuals together, delivering an average of 15 million packages and documents in more than 220 countries and territories. Founded in 1907 as a messenger company in the U.S., it has grown into a multi-billion-dollar international corporation, which also does a lot of good venture philanthropy work through its UPS Foundation.

The Foundation shares UPS's extensive knowledge of logistics, coupled with financial support through grants, and works with not-for-profits in the humanitarian relief field to enhance their ability to prepare and respond to natural disasters. Plus, it is keen to create innovative community safety partnerships with charities to champion road safety: it is currently expanding its safe driving program, UPS Road Code^TM., which will engage UPS volunteers globally to instruct teens and novice drivers on safe driving techniques. Last year, the Foundation's venture philanthropy awarded 18 grants totaling more than $5.5 million to not-for-profits that promote community safety through urgent humanitarian relief efforts and road safety initiatives.

According to the organisation Global Road Safety Partnership every 30 seconds a person is killed in a road crash - more than 3000 per day - and almost 1.2 million people per year die in road crashes worldwide. As many as 50 million are injured. More than 85 per cent of the road traffic deaths and injuries occur in low income and middle income countries, yet they own only some 40 per cent of the world's motor vehicles. In some countries, less than half of the deaths that happen as a result of a road crash are reported to the police.

Click here to continue reading and comment

Sangeeta Haindl is a staff writer for Justmeans on Social Enterprise. When not writing for Justmeans, Sangeeta wears her other hat as a PR professional. Over the years, she has worked with high-profile organizations within the public, not-for-profit and corporate sectors; and won awards from her industry. She now runs her own UK consultancy: Serendipity PR & Media.