An entrepreneurial spirit and a family shared vision — our distinguished history is tempestuous and fascinating, but ultimately about lessons learnt. Creating a culture where everyone feels welcome, included and respected is central to our success.
Our commitment to inclusion and diversity is embedded in our firm’s history and daily practice. We have a deep and longstanding commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in business, in society, and within our firm. As an organization, we believe everyone should have the freedom to pursue their dreams and seeks to create a culture of belonging. We strive to develop initiatives to specifically address diversity, equity and inclusion goals — including for recruiting, professional development, retention and advancement, and cross-family cultural awareness — while also continually inculcating inclusion principles into the fabric of the firm. Our focus is on improving education and employment outcomes for all to create a more prosperous society with equal opportunity and enabling new research that builds stronger communities and improves the environment.
Through our sponsorships, we support the economic, social and cultural life of the places we live and work. We provide an extensive program of arts and sports sponsorships to help maintain vibrant, healthy communities. This includes underwriting art exhibitions, events and performances that require private funding to make them a reality. Expanding upon our history of cultural patronage, we are committed to a series of long-term partnerships with cultural institutions to create new programs that will support innovation in creative and cultural thinking. Programs are intended to foreground missing narratives, foster collaboration across disciplines, and help propel transformative ideas that benefit culture and society. Our programs and affinity networks are open to all who are interested in participating:
Scholarships and Fellowships. In recent years, we have continued to cultivate talented emerging leaders for both the academy and public service, and various other initiatives. We have sought not only to prepare leaders but to transform institutions, addressing the need for change in American doctoral education and in school-university partnerships that promote the transition to college.
Professional Collegiality and Peer Monitoring. The quality of our employees is the cornerstone of our ability to serve our partners and clients. For this reason, we invest tremendous resources to identify exceptional people, develop their skills, and create an environment that fosters their growth as leaders. Our affinity groups facilitate relationships among employees with shared interests and backgrounds and provide a forum in which traditional and peer-mentoring opportunities may develop and flourish.
A Time-Honored Tradition of Craftsmanship. Although the builder’s tools have changed through the years, there is no substitute for craftsmanship and how the tools are used. Architecture is a tool to connect people, engage their senses, and enhance their lives. We remain true to the finest architectural traditions by provide continuous improvement courses throughout the year.
Civil Society and Modernity. Continued engagement and partnerships with civil society remain essential to the Company’s success. We work hard to protect the environment through sustainable practices across its businesses, and to both address and prevent future social and environmental challenges, including reducing post-consumer waste (focusing on eco-design and circularity), tackling climate change, preserving nature, improving the quality of life of people in our supply chain, and fostering an empowered and inclusive workplace.
We Believe in America Committee. Our Board of Directors believes that participation in the political process is an important element of our business, one undertaken for the benefit of all company stakeholders. We support individual state candidate campaigns, state political parties and select state and national political associations. Our Employee Political Action Committee is a research group whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative bipartisan public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.
A Salute to Those Who Serve. During certain times of the year, we make time to honor the sacrifices many brave individuals have made and continue to make in order to keep us all safe. Our role in supporting the military community is as vital as the missions we support. We sponsor employee initiatives and champion business practices that support the veteran community. We identify solutions to meet emerging needs and are committed to using funds responsibly to help the most people. We provide direct financial assistance and vital programming for combat wounded, critically ill and catastrophically injured service members and their families.
Community-Centered Arts and Culture. The arts occupy many roles and serve many functions for businesses, governments, and families. Art Builds. Art Questions. Art Transcends Borders. Art spawns’ new ideas for shaping our future. It inspires people, opens perspectives, and enables the embrace of unusual and innovative solutions. Programs for emerging artists, musicians, and cultural institutions enrich cities, and bringing the performing arts into the workplace encourages the kind of thought-leadership that has been integral to our continued success. Drawing on our research and expertise, we gather and develop resources that help school systems, higher education institutions, and vocational programs to transform their performance and improve student outcomes. Our work focuses on the most pressing issues facing educators today. By identifying best practices, gathering data, and partnering with experts to generate new insights, we help stakeholders in education deliver substantial improvements in individual, social, and economic outcomes.
Professional Competitive Fencing. As one of the most rapidly growing sports, fencing blends together mental strategy and pure athleticism. Fencing combines discipline, agility, and precision—all qualities we admire. It is also a sport to which we can make a meaningful contribution, both at the highest competitive level and through fencing schools throughout the country. We have long seen the value of sponsorship as part of our business strategy. We are sponsors of New York Athletic Club events. The Athlete's Fund exists, in large part, to further that mandate, providing funding - especially in Olympic years - for Club athletes at the highest level.
Yale University Polo Team. Founded in 1919, Yale Polo is the oldest collegiate polo team in the United States. Celebrating over a quarter century of polo tradition between the University of Virginia and Yale University, the Harriman Cup Polo Match is a social sports networking event commemorating the life of former New York Governor William Averell Harriman. The William Harriman Polo Cup Award honors stellar individuals who have made significant contributions to the world of polo and embody the leadership, public service, and staunch advocacy and support for equestrian sports that were characteristic of former Governor Harriman. Our sponsorship is to join Yale University in connecting clients, colleagues, and communities through sports and the conversations.