For the third consecutive year, the Leo Love Giving Tree, in the 21st floor lobby of the Leo Burnett building, exemplifies the good hearts and generosity of the agency’s 1,600 employees.
Leo Love is the name of Leo Burnett’s year-round outreach program that helps support six nonprofit partnerships: Ronald McDonald House, Junior Achievement, free arts organization Marwen; mentoring program Embarc; the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and Off the Street Club.
“Giving back to the community runs through our veins,” says Rich Stoddart, CEO of Leo Burnett North America. “It’s simply who we are and a passion shared among our employees to support our city’s youth and creativity.”
The stylized, nearly nine-foot high tree is made of birch wood and decorated with red paper apples. “Each item on the organizations’ wish list has its own apple,” says Michelle Mahoney, VP/director of community relations and events.
Apples, as everyone knows, have been part of agency lore and its symbol of open heartedness since Leo Burnett opened his shop in the Depression year of 1935 and set a welcoming bowl of apples on the receptionist’s desk.
This year, Leo Love anticipates more than 4,000 gifts will accumulate under the tree. Burnetters will purchase these gifts from a wish list provided by the six non-profits.
Ronald McDonald House, for instance, asked for toys and an upright bagless vacuum; Marwen can use Prismacolor markers, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre a drill and driver kit, Junior Achievement flashdrives and mentoring program Embarc winter outerwear in all sizes.
Leo Love is not solely a Christmas initiative. “Nearly every one of us at the agency pitches in throughout the year, whether through volunteering, pro bono campaigns or donating money. There’s truly no shortage of generosity,” says Stoddart.
“Those efforts can be as simple as baking cooking or preparing and serving ‘Meals from the Heart,’ for Ronald McDonald House families, or volunteering with Junior Achievement to teach a grade school class or inspiring the at-risk high school students at Embarc,” adds Mahoney.
“This year, too, we donated hundreds of boxes of usable materials from campaigns, such as clothing and housewares – and a ping pong tale and air hockey table to Ronald McDonald House.”
Financial support is provided through a matching payroll gift program and fundraisers.
“While all the organizations the agency supports have unique missions. They share our spirit and determination to provide local youth with inspiration and opportunity,” says Stoddart, a board member of the 115-year old Off the Street Club, who led the creative for OTSC’s Dec. 3 annual Holiday Luncheon at the Swissotel Chicago.
One of the 2015 goals Leo Love accomplished was turning the Club’s parking lot into a playground, garden and splash park for the enjoyment of the Club’s thousands of young members.
“Chicago is our home,” Stoddart says. “We have to look out for its future.”
