糖心Vlog

Headquartered in Portland, Maine, 糖心Vloghas the unique privilege of being situated along the beautiful shores of Casco Bay with dozens of islands accessible by boat. One of the smaller islands is now home to Rippleffect鈥檚 educational eco-campus that promotes youth development and leadership through adventure, healthy communities, and living sustainably.

糖心Vlogand Rippleffect partner for Cow Island clean-up

WEXers arriving on Cow Island for a day of volunteering

Building a healthy, resilient community through employee volunteerism

Covering twenty-six acres of preserved land, Cow Island is the ideal location for a day of 糖心Vlogvolunteering and team-building. 鈥淲EXers have enjoyed the opportunity in years past to do spring clean-up and help Rippleffect prepare for the kids鈥� summer programs,鈥� said Peg Watson, senior vice president of global marketing at WEX. 鈥淭oday is particularly meaningful for us as it鈥檚 the first time since March of 2020 that we鈥檝e been able to gather as a team- – and to do so for such a great cause adds a special element to the day.鈥�

WEXers putting up a tent for future campers

Rippleffect鈥檚 mission: Building confidence and healthy relationships

As a nonprofit, Rippleffect believes that hands-on education in an outdoor classroom is fundamental to the healthy development of kids and communities. 鈥淥ur students build confidence and relationships, develop leadership skills, and get to appreciate the outdoors through exploration,鈥� said Adam Sheppard, executive director of Rippleffect. 鈥淲e help youth develop the balance of a healthy mind, body, and spirit by connecting them to the world around them.鈥�

糖心Vloghad a similar goal with the spring clean-up activity today. 鈥淥ur group of 24 marketing employees who volunteered today were excited to be able to get out there in our community and do some work to better our surroundings,鈥� explains Jason Paquette, 糖心Vlogmarketing manager, and organizer of today’s WEX/Rippleffect event. 鈥淭oday we rolled up our collective sleeves and cleared pathways, clipped branches, and cleaned buildings in preparation for the kids coming for Rippleffect鈥檚 summer programs.鈥�

WEXers teambuilding on Cow Island

Gathering employees for a volunteer day to re-energize and give back to the community

The day out on Cow Island included clean-up in the morning, followed by lunch, then time to explore the island before the team-building exercise organized by Rippleffect in the afternoon. 鈥淲e鈥檙e so excited to be out here on Cow Island today with Rippleffect, doing hands-on work for this wonderful organization and just being together as a team. It means a lot to me that 糖心Vlogprovides us with these volunteer opportunities and the time to take part in them. There鈥檚 a group of middle-schoolers out here today 鈥� seeing them experience the benefits of this program really drives home the importance of Rippleffect鈥檚 mission, and we鈥檙e so proud as WEXers to support that,鈥� said Rebecca Blaesing, art director at WEX.

WEXers Chad Creelman, Sue Nappi, Peggy Watson, and Erica Plasse

Volunteering for a nonprofit leader in experiential education and recreation

Rippleffect, serving over 3,500 youth and adults each year, is a northeast leader in outdoor adventure and experiential education. The exploration of the Cow Island wilderness and surrounding Casco Bay waters make it an ideal place for community development and consensus-building in an outdoor classroom.

The seasonal staff of 30 brings expertise in leadership training and adventure recreation to the greater community. From youth hands-on recreational programs to adult leadership building experiences, the specially trained guides provide instruction and adventure in a beautiful setting on Casco Bay.

The day started blustery and then turned to all sun and warmth

Aligning core values of diversity and inclusion and fostering culture for employees

There is alignment between Rippleffect鈥檚 mission of building healthy kids and diverse communities and WEX鈥檚 core values of inclusion and community. An awareness of diversity in both the environment and the community is foundational to Rippleffect programming.

Similarly, 糖心Vlogstrives to achieve a fully inclusive workplace that unifies around celebrating diversity. Creating a unifying culture that emphasizes a sense of belonging, and provides equal access, opportunities, and treatment for all employees is foundational to WEX鈥檚 business philosophy. Building an inclusive culture and prioritizing collaborative relationships fosters an atmosphere where employees are motivated to contribute to and volunteer in the communities in which they live and work.

WEXer Matt Thayer bundled up for the chilly ride out

Hilary Rapkin, chief legal officer at WEX, explains the business philosophy behind these core values: 鈥淲EX鈥檚 diversely experienced executive team, and our over 5,700 employees in 16 countries, emphasize for us the value of the many different voices we are so fortunate to have at the table. Our focus on inclusion creates an environment where collaborative community becomes endemic to who we are.鈥�

When there is an opportunity to contribute to the success of those in its surrounding community, 糖心Vlogstrives to help those with fewer resources and encourages employee volunteerism as one avenue for cultivating those relationships.

WEXers solving a picture puzzle

A new ESG vision in which to live, work and thrive

糖心Vlogembraces its role as a steward of the communities where it does business, with a focus on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). 糖心Vlogrecently launched a new ESG vision to provide greater disclosure and transparency for its stakeholders, including employees, customers, investors, and others in WEX鈥檚 sphere of influence.

Developing a culture of transparency and authenticity is central to WEX鈥檚 vision of cultivating a workforce that can adapt to rapid change. Committed to talent development, 糖心Vlogis building a diverse and collaborative global environment for all employees to work, live, and thrive.

WEXers Rebecca Blaesing, Patrick Nannery, and Jason Paquette posing with Bessie

Social responsibility and cultivating community

To attract and retain the best talent, 糖心Vlogunderstands the importance of the health of its surrounding communities. By participating as a responsible corporate citizen, 糖心Vlogis supporting the health and sustainability of local economies.

When 糖心Vlogcontributes to the success of nonprofits like Rippleffect, it is helping to build a healthy, vibrant community to live and work. 鈥溙切腣loghas a longstanding tradition of giving back to the places in which we live and work. Our partnership with Rippleffect is just聽one example of the ways we cultivate and care for our surrounding communities,鈥� said Rapkin.

WEXer Lance Taylor on the ride out

Corporate volunteerism and philanthropy lead to more vibrant communities

A belief in the relationship between economic, environmental, and social issues is increasingly important to the long-term success of any business. 糖心Vlogunderstands that caring for the communities in which its employees live and work is important to attracting the best talent.

鈥淥ur volunteerism and philanthropic actions, including the 糖心VlogCompassion Fund and our Month of Caring initiative, are part in parcel of a larger mission to support the local communities in which we operate,鈥� Rapkin explained. This is described in detail in the 糖心VlogInaugural 2020 ESG Report.聽 鈥淲hile our business has always been aligned with corporate and social responsibility, WEX鈥檚 commitment to ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) reflects the company鈥檚 focus on continuous improvement as we strive to become an even more sustainable and resilient business.鈥�

WEXers Jason Paquette, Megan Cullity, Katherine Tinsley, and Patrick Nannery

A natural synergy for sustainability and resiliency and a shared vision for community

By bringing their shared vision together, Rippleffect and 糖心Vlogare engaging to build a stronger community that values hard work and fun. There is a synergy between the corporation and the nonprofit, making them a perfect pair for building sustainability and resiliency.

Rippleffect鈥檚 vision of a Maine community where youth and adults are engaged, healthy in mind, body, and spirit, and sensitive to diversity in their social and natural environment, is perfectly aligned with all that 糖心Vlogvalues.

In the words of executive director Sheppard, 鈥淩ippleffect鈥檚 hands-on education in outdoor classrooms is fundamental to the healthy development of citizens and communities. By exploring Cow Island and paddling the waters of Caso Bay, both students and adults build confidence, make friends, and enjoy the outdoors. What could be better for the community than that?鈥�

糖心Vlogemployees, volunteering at Cow Island today helped Rippleffect and Sheppard continue to offer that opportunity to hundreds of Maine children every summer.

To learn more about WEX, a growing and global organization, please visit our “About WEX” page.