Our Investment Bank has long held the belief that private sector resources are a vital factor in helping communities around the world tackle social problems, and as a result it has a vigorous community affairs program. We recognize that UBS’s success depends not only on the skill and resources of our people and the relationships we foster with our clients, but also on the health and prosperity of the communities of which we are a part. Indeed, the firm’s coordinated efforts to support programs that create jobs and improve education have brought clear and tangible results, improving the economic and social conditions for many in need.
We aim to bring to community affairs the creative and innovative approach that characterizes UBS and to choose and manage donations, grants and community involvement programs that are consistent with the long-term commitment of the company to be a responsible corporate citizen. Our staff are our best possible agents in helping us to achieve this.
An important part of our success in achieving our objectives is the relationships we have developed with organizations sharing the firm’s vision. For example, our community investment program participates in projects that help regenerate poor neighborhoods and focus on improving educational attainment. Some of our community partnerships have been running for over 15 years, helping to engage employees, clients and other stakeholders in many social initiatives. Moreover, the strength and longevity of these partnerships and collaborative initiatives have been recognized by a number of awards - six of them in the last 12 months alone (see box).
The success of any community affairs project is dependent on the expertise and commitment of employees. In London and America, employees freely give time to volunteer as mentors to teenage pupils. They also teach reading, computer and numeracy skills to primary school children, sit on the board of local community organizations and charities, develop charity web sites and host curriculum vitae workshops for the unemployed. Also, up to 80 employees at a time team up to paint partner schools and shelters for the homeless. Each year, over 15% of UBS employees working in London and Stamford volunteer for such projects.
The key to success is the manner in which the community affairs program is managed. The exceptional level of support, encouragement and personal involvement on the part of our senior management reflects the importance UBS attaches to community affairs. As evidence of that, in June last year The WorkPlace Inc, one of the leading workforce development boards in the Americas, awarded our Investment Bank their President’s Award for leadership in strengthening the management of community organizations. Earlier this year, the YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) of Greater New York named Investment Bank CEO John Costas its Man of the Year 2003 because of the firm’s commitment to youth in New York City.
An example of one of the charities we support is ORBIS. UBS began its partnership with ORBIS International in 1999 as part of its international educational agenda. ORBIS works in developing countries towards curing and preventing sight problems through practical, hands-on training for local doctors, nurses, technicians and healthcare workers. Much of the training takes place in an airplane, the interior of which has been converted into an operating theatre and lecture room – an ideal vehicle to bring modern medical technology to the developing world.
UBS has supported projects in Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Pakistan, where expertise passed on by ORBIS volunteer doctors has saved the sight of thousands.
Many of the 45 million blind people in the world are unable to work or start families, even though many can often be cured with something as simple as an eye patch. Sustainability of the charitable work is a key requirement for projects funded by UBS, and the education provided through ORBIS is easy for trainees to retain and pass on, helping to spread such basic remedies as far and wide through the developing world as possible.
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