Social good connects us at Hearst and giving back to the communities where we live and work is a core value. It’s one of the ways we build relationships and inspire one another. Through volunteering, telethons, collaborations, new programs and more, colleagues stepped up professionally and personally to support the causes that matter to them most, and Hearst supported them.
Years at Hearst: 11
Last show you binged: The Queen’s Gambit and Ted Lasso
How has Hearst Newspapers charted new territory and innovated upon their current work?
Hearst Connecticut Media Group has charted new territory in its approach to selling media plans, whether in person or on Microsoft Teams. Opening doors by pitching our native content platforms (Story Studio and Community Spotlight) has created more meaningful conversations with our clients. Although these platforms are not new to HCMG, our clients are taking a fresh look at the benefits of associating their brands with Hearst. This has given us true insight into the unique challenges they are facing, and the new goals they have established for their business. We are now able to create stronger media plans which deliver measurable results and reach their ideal audience.
Carrie Sandor
Director of Advertising, Hearst Media Services, Hearst Newspapers
Norwalk, Connecticut
From supporting emotional health to educational programming, workforce development, COVID-19 recovery and more, the Hearst Foundations awarded 320 grants totaling $41,735,000 in 2021.
MOTOR Information Systems established an annual $10,000 scholarship fund to create opportunities for diverse candidates in the automotive repair industry in Detroit.
Hearst introduced colleague charitable-matching platforms, Hearst Gives Back and Fitch Community, on Giving Tuesday 2020, with a gift of funds for each colleague to donate to the causes of their choice. In March 2021, gift-matching was fully activated, so colleagues can support non-profit organizations in their communities and around the world, with dollar-for-dollar matching from Hearst up to $10,000 per employee, per year. Hearst Champions around the organization help their teams get involved, launch drives and more. From March to December 2021, nearly $5 million was pledged and matched to thousands of organizations.
Years at Snappy: 6 ½
2022 New Year’s resolution: Continue to focus on doing good!
In what ways have you given back to your local community?
Snappy has a big emphasis on giving back to the community. We created a $500,000 fund with the purpose to make an impact. In addition, we planted a Snappy forest with 14,000 trees for sustainability and cleaned local parks. We’ve partnered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and committed to donate $250,000 annually, raised $70,000 from gift donations from our gift recipients in one week as well as participated in many events like painting a homeless shelter, tutoring kids at need, taking out a group of at-risk LGBTQ+ youth to have fun with us, participated in the AIDS Walk and made donations and gave gifts to hospitals and nurses.
Hani Goldstein
CEO, Hearst Venture Investment Snappy
New York, New York
ESPN’s 14ᵗʰ Annual V Week raised over $6.7 million for the V Foundation for Cancer Research.
Town & Country, which marks its 175ᵗʰ anniversary this year, virtually hosted its annual Philanthropy Summit, which included Pharrell Williams, José Andrés, Taraji P. Henson, Stacy-Marie Ishmael, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Congressman Jamie Raskin.
Fitch Group announced the creation of Sustainable Fitch and launched ESG ratings products.
In honor of Men’s Health Month in June, Men’s Health and Rhone launched the (MEN)TAL HEALTHY campaign, which included a limited-edition T-shirt with all proceeds from sales benefiting Mental Health America.
In partnership with the Emma Bowen Foundation, Hearst established the Jeana Stanley Endowment to provide need-based scholarships and internship opportunities to minority students working toward finance careers in the media industry.
Executive Vice Chairman and former CEO Frank A. Bennack Jr. was honored for a lifetime of generosity and support of important social services as the 2021 Happy Warrior at the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner, which raised over $7 million for New York’s neediest.
In 2021, Hearst Television stations helped raise more than $20 million in their communities for extreme weather relief efforts, food insecurity and holiday fundraising drives.
Years at Hearst: 13
Last show you binged: Gentefied on Netflix
In what ways have you given back to your local community or Hearst community?
I volunteer my time by speaking at local high schools to Hispanic students, who are usually part of the National Honor Society or one of the Hispanic/Latino clubs, on the importance of going to college, finding what motivates them in life and pretty much anything they want to discuss. It’s been a real eye-opener that has given me a true perspective on what teenagers are facing daily, especially Hispanic youth when deciding if college is something their families can afford and the process behind the college applications and scholarships available to certain communities.
Neida Gotay
Director of Estrella Sales, Hearst Television
Orlando, Florida
As a complement to the 280-megawatt California Flats solar project on the Jack Ranch, a new 60-megawatt battery system was constructed in 2021, which stores and dispatches clean, renewable electricity when California’s electrical grid needs it most.
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This holiday season, Hearst colleagues in New York donated more than 500 gifts for children at the East Side House Settlement. For each gift, Hearst also contributed $50 to United Way of NYC for a total of $26,750.
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Hearst Ventures investment Dronebase completed over 40 gigawatts of renewable energy inspection across five continents.
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CDS Global partnered with United Way of Central Iowa to help seniors arrange their COVID-19 vaccine appointments.
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Bundle up: KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, New Mexico, made sure kids in New Mexico stayed warm this winter with KOATs for Kids, a month-long donation drive collecting new coats of all sizes for kids who need it most.
WGAL-TV, Lancaster/Harrisburg, Pennsylvania’s Children's Miracle Network Telethon raised $388,550 for Penn State Health Children’s Hospital.
ESPN and My Brother’s Keeper Alliance announced a mentoring program to support youth of color in the greater Los Angeles, New York City and District of Columbia communities.
Years at Fitch Ratings: 9
How has your team stayed connected in the last year? Teams!
Favorite candy: Chocolate (especially Hershey’s)
What projects are you excited to work on in 2022?
Sustainable Fitch
Miguel Mejia
Director, Fitch Ratings
Colombia
