Making a World of Difference: AIR Staff Direct $25,000 in Charitable Support this Giving Tuesday
Hundreds of staff at AIR took part in the institution’s third annual Giving Tuesday community project, selecting charities to receive a total of $25,000 in support from AIR.
AIR asked staff which nonprofits, working in the U.S. and internationally, are making a world of difference in their communities. Staff had the opportunity to share their ideas and stories in a virtual space, and later vote on a shortlist of 15 organizations to determine which five nonprofits would receive $5,000 each in support.
AIR staff selected the following nonprofits:
- Bread for the City, increasing access to nutritious foods and groceries for low-income residents of Washington, D.C.;
- Friends of Edna's Maternity Hospital, providing essential, life-saving care for mothers and infants in Somaliland;
- IRUSA’s Emergency Aid in Palestine, delivering urgent food and medical supplies amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza;
- Mamatoto Village, addressing disparities in Black birth-related deaths and creating career pathways in maternal health for Black healthcare workers in Washington, D.C.; and
- The Prison + Neighborhood Arts/Education Project, connecting incarcerated students with opportunities for self-expression and career skill building in Chicago.
“Social responsibility is central to who we are as an institution,” says Makini Nyanteh, chief communications officer and senior vice president. “AIR is proud to offer staff an opportunity to come together as a community and champion causes they care about.”
This summer, AIR’s 2022 Giving Tuesday efforts won finalist status among Fortune 500 companies in Ragan Communications’ CSR and Diversity awards.
The Giving Tuesday project is part of AIR’s broader commitment to corporate social responsibility, including recognizing staff volunteerism, partnering with community-based organizations, and providing humanitarian aid worldwide.
Additional nonprofits supported by AIR’s giving program in the past month include World Central Kitchen, for providing food in Gaza and Israel, HIAS, for supporting families in Israel, the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, and SisterMentors in Washington, D.C. AIR also contributed to the Arlington Food Assistance Center in Arlington, VA, where 27 AIR staff self-organized a volunteer day to sort food for distribution to families in need.