![Baird associates volunteering in outdoor space](/siteassets/baird-digest/2024-summer/letter-from-leadership-2560x12802.jpg?width=1900&height=560&mode=crop)
Letter From Leadership: Personal Values, Local Action
Our commitment to giving back to local communities is exemplified by our associates.
Giving back is an important part of Baird’s DNA – and a way we put our values into practice. This year, we celebrate the 15th anniversary of Baird Gives Back, the associate resource group committed to deepening associate involvement in their local communities through volunteer and networking opportunities. But that’s only one way Baird associates make their mark:
- We support our associates’ personal giving through Baird Foundation, which directs donations to organizations they are actively supporting. In addition to funding nonprofits in such areas as health and human services, education and the arts, Baird Foundation serves as a resource to help our associates join boards and serve in leadership roles.
- Baird associates fund and nominate recipients for the Paul Purcell “Kids Win!” Annual Baird Education Grant. In 2024, the grant recognized 18 organizations committed to helping kids win, from University of Alaska Foundation to Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida.
- For more than 65 years, Baird has supported the United Way’s mission to build stronger, more resilient communities. In 2023, 93% of associates from 59 offices pitched in to benefit 99 local United Ways.
There’s a lot that makes Baird unique in our industry, including an employee ownership structure that lets us prioritize client service. But what has always set us apart is the character of our people – a quality we hope you feel in every meeting, email and phone call.