MPI to expand Corporate Social Responsibility efforts for WEC18

Meeting Professionals International (MPI) has announced a variety of corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives for its 2018 MPI World Education Congress (WEC18). The association says these efforts will support local charities and help create a model and methodology which future meetings all over the world can emulate. They include the following: Food drive for second helpings Second Helpings takes unserved food from hotels and other entities and distributes it through 85 organisations in the local community, serving some 4,000 meals per day. The unserved food from WEC18 will go directly from the convention centre caterer to Second Helpings, so attendees do not need to bring canned goods or other food items. Children’s books for the Julian Center WEC18 attendees are invited, however, to bring children’s books to be donated to the Julian Center. Located in downtown Indianapolis, this shelter helps families affected by domestic abuse and other life crises. Conference supplies for Teacher’s Treasures WEC18 attendees can donate leftover giveaways, papers and supplies from previous conferences and events to help local students and teachers in Indianapolis. Teacher’s Treasures assists more than 2,400 teaches from 250 schools each year with getting the school supplies their students need. Makeup and apparel items for Dress for Success Dress for Success Indianapolis helps women seeking to get back on their feet and rejoin the workforce put together professional-looking wardrobes that will help them gain employment. WEC18 attendees are encouraged to bring accessories such as mascara, knee-high hosiery, inexpensive jewelry, small purses and cell phone cases (new or gently used). Paint Fest with the Foundation for Hospital Art WEC18 attendees can support the Foundation for Hospital Art by painting panels of murals that will be displayed at local Indianapolis hospitals. Since 1984, this organisation has been committed to brightening the walls of healthcare facilities around the world. Cheeriodicals Team Builder and Donations The Cheeriodicals initiative will involve teambuilding with WEC18 attendees creating and delivering gift boxes for patients at the Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital and the Riley Children’s Hospital. The gift boxes will include items such as stuffed animals, crafts, toys, puzzles and children’s magazines – all of which will be supplied onsite by Cheeriodicals, a national corporate teambuilding company that conducts philanthropic events benefiting children’s hospitals, Ronald McDonald Houses, veterans’ hospitals and other charities across the country. WEC18 takes place, 2–5 June 2018, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. It has been designed using the ISO 20121 Event Sustainability Management System as a guide and framework; read the related WEC18 sustainability blog article. Check out this MPI blog article for more details on WEC18 CSR programming as well as the related Cheeriodicals press release. MPI is the largest meeting and event industry association worldwide and has a global community of 60,000 meeting and event professionals. It has more than 90 chapters and clubs in 19 countries.