MILWAUKEE, Feb. 2, 2009
Baird announced today that its Milwaukee-area associates achieved a record-setting level of contribution in this year’s United Way of Greater Milwaukee campaign. United Way victoriously exceeded its $44 million goal, raising $44.2 million despite the economic downturn. More than 96 percent of Baird’s associates in the metro Milwaukee area contributed to the campaign – the sixth consecutive year in which associate participation has surpassed 95 percent. Milwaukee Baird associate and corporate contributions totaled $913,977.
Baird has more Alexis de Tocqueville Society donors, associates donating $10,000 or more, than any other firm in Greater Milwaukee with several new donors joining the group this year.
“The numbers are extremely impressive,” said Paul Purcell, Baird’s Chairman, President & CEO. “Our economy has made this a tough year for many people. That our associates are willing to make such an effort for others truly demonstrates the quality of people we have.”
“The difference United Way makes in the community is remarkable,” said Mary Ellen Stanek, Baird’s Director of Asset Management, who served as a co-chair of United Way’s 2008 community campaign. “I feel like we all have a responsibility to give back, and I’m very proud of Baird’s ongoing commitment to United Way’s community campaign.”
“United Way has always been able to depend on Baird’s strong support,” said Sue Dragisic, President of United Way of Greater Milwaukee. “The philanthropic spirit of Baird associates helps more than 420,000 people build better lives through United Way’s critical work toward breaking the cycle of poverty in our community.”
Baird’s offices in Chicago and Cincinnati also earned honors in their first-ever campaigns. Baird associates at offices across Metro Chicago raised $116,894 and were named the top new campaign in Greater Chicago. Participation reached 100 percent at Baird’s Cincinnati office, which was recognized among the top three contributors for a new campaign by the United Way of Greater Cincinnati. In recognition of the efforts of Cincinnati associates, the Baird Foundation also made a contribution to that office campaign.
Core to Baird’s culture is a
commitment to the communities in which its associates live and work. This caring commitment is a tradition built through the efforts of the firm, the Baird Foundation and the community involvement of Baird associates. As evidence of this commitment, 97 percent of Baird’s area associates also donated to the United Performing Arts Fund in 2008 for the third consecutive year. To recognize the generosity and commitment of Baird associates, the United Performing Arts Fund created the
Robert W. Baird Outstanding Achievement in Employee Giving Award in 2005.
Baird’s firmwide Charitable Gift Matching Program provides a match for associates’ financial contributions to eligible nonprofit organizations. Associates also receive an additional paid day off each year to perform volunteer service through the “Baird Cares” program.
About Baird
Baird is an employee-owned, international wealth management, capital markets, private equity and asset management firm with offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. Established in 1919, Baird has more than 2,300 associates serving the needs of individual, corporate, institutional and municipal clients. Baird oversees and manages client assets of more than $66 billion. Committed to being a great place to work, Baird ranked number 14 on FORTUNE’s “100 Best Companies to Work For”
® in 2009 -- its sixth consecutive year on the list. Baird’s principal operating subsidiaries are Robert W. Baird & Co. in the United States and Robert W. Baird Group Ltd. in Europe. Baird also has an operating subsidiary in Asia supporting Baird’s private equity operations. For more information, please visit Baird’s Web site at
www.rwbaird.com.