Raymond James donates 6,500 advisory hours to local communities

The Raymond James Cares programme, which operates across 31 US states, recently donated more than 6,500 hours to benefit 145 local charity organisations. The programme, which is predominantly ran in August, provides local organisations with a range of support, from the firm’s staff, from working at food banks to teaching children about financial literacy.

As part of Raymond James’ corporate responsibility efforts in the US, the financial advisory firm runs a coordinated firm wide community services programme entitled Raymond James Cares. The programme brings together local needs, through a range of local charity organisations, with advisors and associates of the firm, who give their time to support the needs of their local charity.

The most recent edition of the programme, which ran across the month of August, saw 2,000 of the firm’s professional staff deliver services to 102 local communities across 31 states contributed. In total the staff clocked 6,562 hours to benefit 145 organisations by, for instance, collecting and donated food, clothes, school supplies and pet supplies; teaching children about financial literacy; preparing and serving meals to the homeless and families of sick children receiving medical treatment; and packaged goods at multiple food banks, among others.

This year’s effort, in terms of hours donated, the firm reports, was a 17% boost on that of last year, and hit more than 25,000 hours since the programme’s inception in 2012. The firm’s effort is part of social responsibility programmes operated by the firm, which include more than $5 million donated through the annual United Way Suncoast workplace giving campaign, and wider community participation in civic clubs, schools, chambers of commerce and social services.

Raymond James CEO, Paul Reilly, says, “Serving our communities is a core part of who we are as a company. Our associates continue to demonstrate their dedication to giving back, not only during Raymond James Cares month, but throughout the entire year. I’m proud to lead a team that truly values philanthropy.”

The programme reflects wider participation by consultancy firms in corporate responsibility, including Protitivi's i on Hunger initiative and Baker Tilly’s Stewardship day, among others.