Team BIC Gives Back

Here at BIC, the commitment to doing good is in our DNA and we celebrate opportunities to give back to the causes that are close to our hearts. Throughout the year, our team members have been encouraged to get involved through various volunteering and community support initiatives. Whether it’s volunteering, donations, or education services, Team BIC has been engaged in various ways of giving back throughout the year: 

Global Education Week: 

A key part of our sustainable development program, Writing the Future Together, is BIC’s annual Global Education Week, which focuses on providing writing and coloring products to schools and organizations worldwide. This year, Team BIC is proud to have donated 4.4+ million BIC products to 677+ underserved schools, supporting 425,000+ students! 

In addition to product donations, BIC team members also volunteered hundreds of hours participating in various initiatives to support Global Education Week:  

  • Members from our Shelton, CT office took on the role of ‘teacher for a day’ in Bradley Elementary classrooms, in partnership with Junior Achievement of Greater Fairfield County, a non-profit focused on empowering today’s youth. Team members educated students from all grade levels about business and financial topics and brought along goodie bags filled with BIC school supplies for each classroom, which had been put together in the office.  

“These volunteer events were a great way for the OneBIC team to give back and make a difference – we were able to pack and distribute 300+ school supply kits for teachers and students during Global Education Week! It was fantastic to see everyone take part and it makes me so proud to be part of Team BIC,” shared Kate Bauer, Program & Operations Manager, North America Engagement, who helped facilitate these sessions for Shelton-based team members.  

  • The BIC Corporate Foundation created the BIC Educator’s Activity Guide for Classroom Creativity to inspire curiosity in students through practical, easy to execute teaching methods. Tailored for primary and secondary education levels, the digital booklet helped hundreds of educators globally promote active learning, encouraging students to ask questions, evaluate different perspectives, and explore new ideas. 

Call for Projects: 

Every year, BIC team members around the globe can nominate local not-for-profit organizations of their choice to receive funding for a project geared toward education and the development of creative skills. The four winning organizations will receive up to 10,000 EUR per year for three years from the local BIC site and the BIC Corporate Foundation. This year’s winning organizations and the BIC team member that nominated it are mentioned below: 

  1. Narada Association nominated by Ruxandra Constantin, BIC Romania 
  2. P.I.C.A. Childhood Protection Against Bullying nominated by Oscar Bustamante Herrera, BIC Graphic Europe – Spain 
  3. Dorina Nowill Foundation nominated by Eliana Manacero, BIC Amazonia – São Paulo, Brazil 
  4. Roots Institute Centre nominated by Denis Naumenko, BIC Kenya 

BIC team members also have the chance to participate in volunteering activities with the winning organizations – getting to see first-hand the impact of our funding – making The Call for Projects especially meaningful to Team BIC. 

Girls Right Now and Women Empowerment - BIC (WEB) ERG: 

For several years, the BIC Corporate Foundation has held a strong partnership with Girls Write Now, a New York-based non-for-profit writing and mentoring organization for girls and gender-expansive youth from underserved communities. Now Team BIC is continuing the collaboration through Women Empowerment - BIC (WEB), BIC’s Employee Resource Group (ERG) focused on empowering women at BIC. Through their recent event, they connected members of Girls Write Now with BIC team members to have candid mentorship conversations about career pathing, being the CEO of your own life, and growth. With around 20 volunteers from BIC, the event was a success. As a result of this event, Team BIC members have even shown interest in getting involved in the mentorship program offered by Girls Write Now, further extending their relationship with the organization. 

Coat Drive in Shelton: 

As the colder months approach for some of the world, BIC team members located in our Shelton, CT office helped prepare the local community for winter with a coat drive! During November, Team BIC partnered with the Salvation Army in Ansonia to collect new and gently used coats, hats, and gloves for people in need during the winter season. Due to this year’s success, the team looks forward to hosting another coat drive next year! 

BIC Transforms Classrooms in Nigeria: 

Earlier in 2023, BIC Nigeria concluded the renovation of classrooms at the Local Government Nursery and Primary School and Inclusive Unit in Igando, Lagos after floods damaged the school last year. In partnership with Rising Star Africa Foundation, a non-profit organization which focuses on providing access to education for differently abled children in Africa, BIC leveraged its capabilities and renovated the classrooms, enhancing their overall environment and providing learning tools for students.  

Children from Môm'Artre and AEISEC visit BIC’s Clichy, France Office: 

During the year, BIC Corporate Foundation hosted students from two local non-for-profit organizations, Môm'Artre and AEISEC, at the BIC office in Clichy: 

In partnership with Môm'Artre and Fondation Culturespaces, children from schools across Paris joined our team members for an immersive afternoon of art and education – all centered around our iconic BIC products! Our team members volunteered to greet the students and offered them insight into the work they do here to create the products that generations of people have grown up with.     

Students from AIESEC, an international youth-run and led non-profit organization, joined Team BIC for the 18th consecutive Business in Practice forum which helps build a bridge between Bulgaria’s youth and Bulgaria’s business community. Paired off with BIC team members as mentors, these talented students had the unique opportunity to showcase their innovative thinking and unlock the power of their potential through the “Brainstorm like an Associate” case study.  

BIC Mexico Supports Children at the Gabilondo Soler School:  

Earlier in the year, the Human Resources team in BIC’s Mexico City location organized a Corporate Volunteering event at the Gabilondo Soler School. During the event, 11 BIC employees engaged in various educational activities with children aged 2 to 6. The BIC volunteers played a significant role, sharing moments of learning with over 25 children through their donation of time, talent, and effort. The event was held in collaboration with the international organization Save the Children, furthering BIC's dedication to enhance access to education for over 250 million students globally. 

Mock Interviews in India:  

In collaboration with Life Project for Youth (LP4Y), 18 BIC team members from 13 different countries joined youth from Nepal and India to prepare them for future job interviews by conducting mock interviews. Aiming to boost their confidence and ease any nervousness they may feel when facing real interviews, LP4Y participants also received feedback and useful tips to further enhance their skills. This event proved to be a great success in empowering these young individuals and providing them with the necessary tools to make their mark and excel in their professional lives. 

Through our team members we see our core values embodied each and every day. One of our values, integrity, sums up our commitment to acting responsibly as an organization and doing good where and whenever we can - to better the lives of our team members, the communities in which we live and work and the environment. Especially during the Season of Giving, we see this value brought to life in BIC offices around the globe.