Contributing positively to our communities and the environment is fundamental to Ketchum. Corporate social responsibility, or CSR, represents a value that Ketchum has acted on since our founding in 1923 – a value that we can and should integrate social, ethical and environmental concerns into the business of public relations. What follows are just a few examples of our work around the globe:
Industry Rankings
Ketchum has been named number two in the 2008 “Top 10 PR Firms in Corporate Responsibility” list published by Corporate Responsibility Officer Magazine. The annual list helps companies assess a PR firm’s commitment to and experience in providing clients corporate-responsibility-related services. The magazine ranks firms based on criteria such as the number of corporate-responsibility-related clients and the number of staff working on corporate-responsibility-related cases.
United Nations
Global Compact
Ketchum was the first public relations agency to join the United Nations Global Compact, an international initiative to promote responsible corporate citizenship so that business can be part of the solution to the challenges of globalization. Read “Our Communication on Progress” report.
“Win-Win Partnerships with U.N. Agencies” Conference
In December 2007, Ketchum sponsored a Public Relations Society of America half-day conference called “Win-Win Partnerships with U.N. Agencies” at U.N. headquarters. The conference was designed to help educate PR professionals on how the U.N. offers corporations an unparalleled opportunity to achieve social responsibility goals by helping the U.N. meet needs where demand is greatest around the globe.
World Economic Forum
Since 2004, Ketchum has provided services to promote the World Economic Forum Global Health Initiative, a public-private sector network designed to fight HIV-AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in the developing world. One example of this work is the China Health Alliance, a groundbreaking initiative that brings together select companies, the Chinese government, U.N. agencies and nongovernmental organizations in a joint effort to curb the large-scale spread of tuberculosis and HIV in a country where 45% of the population carries a latent form of tuberculosis. Read more about Ketchum’s work with the Global Health Initiative.
New Orleans Relief
Habitat for Humanity
On a national scale, Ketchum offices around the world donate pro bono services to a broad range of local nonprofit organizations. Sometimes these efforts grow out of work with our clients. Our services for the Louisiana Recovery Authority Support Foundation to communicate post-Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts inspired Ketchum’s partner group to take part in a Habitat for Humanity house build in New Orleans’ Ninth Ward in 2006. Watch a video of the Habitat event.
Wilson Elementary School
In November 2007, Ketchum built on its Habitat project when its worldwide finance team met in New Orleans to donate a day to help restore Wilson Elementary School. The school is housed in a temporary location because the original campus is still badly damaged from Hurricane Katrina. Ketchum colleagues split into teams to paint, read to children, assist students with an art project, and help the school's library organize and shelf donated books.
24/7 Brainstorm
Since 2004, Ketchum has put its public relations expertise to work through its 24/7 brainstorm program. During a 24-hour period, Ketchum teams generate marketing and communication strategies for local nonprofits that don’t ordinarily have the resources to spend for such counsel. Ketchum employees attend at least one brainstorm session and match their expertise with each nonprofit’s need and interest. Ketchum also recruits guest brainstormers from the local business, academic and nonprofit community. The program has been held each year since 2004 in Ketchum’s Atlanta and Chicago offices.
+Unidos
Ketchum’s São Paulo office, Ketchum Estratégia, is a member of +Unidos, a CSR initiative spearheaded by the U.S. embassy in Brazil. The +Unidos initiative promotes best CSR practices in Brazil through a network of more than 50 member companies, which in 2006 invested approximately $250 million in more than 700 CSR projects across Brazil. Among the ways that Ketchum Estratégia participates in this initiative, the office helps raise awareness for the Brazilian Cancer Association, whose mission is to contribute to the prevention and early detection of cancer and reduce the suffering of the cancer patients. Ketchum Estratégia also donates its services to promote the Instituto Brasil Acessível (Accessible Brazil Institute), which builds rooms and houses for needy people. And Ketchum Estratégia lends its expertise to the ONG Alquimia, which has 32 monitors to care for children in slums and provide them a better quality of life.
Professional Advancement
Ketchum leaders also contribute their time and knowledge to advancing the PR profession through leadership in associations around the world. For example, Ketchum CEO Ray Kotcher is the 2008 Chair of the Council of Public Relations Firms. Ketchum London CEO David Gallagher holds the position of Chairman of the Public Relations Consultants Association. And Ketchum Greater China CEO Kenneth Chu serves as Vice President of the Shanghai Public Relations Association, marking the first time a member of a PR agency has held this position.
These are just the highlights. At any given time, there is a Ketchum employee somewhere in the world donating her or his PR or marketing talents, collecting spare change or spare coats, or doing hands-on volunteer work – in other words, integrating the business of public relations with the concerns of society, ethics and the environment.
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