The holidays are a time when many large corporations embrace the ethos of corporate social responsibility, and MasterCard's Holiday Surprise 2014 is a great example. The American payments and technology company surprised six unsuspecting charities in Calgary, Canada with truckloads of over 22,000 toys to assist their holiday drives.
While the holidays are a time for rampant spending and gift-giving, many families are unable to afford gift-giving during the holiday season and depend on charities to brighten up their children's faces.
The six charities that received toys included the Calgary Police Service, Toy Angels Toy Drive, Calgary Firefighters Toy Association, Women's Centre of Calgary, The Magic of Christmas, the Bow Valley Christmas Spirit Campaign and Santas Anonymous.
The surprise toy deliveries were made by MasterCard employees over a period of five days, using a massive 18-wheeler decked out in holiday lights and decorations. Every charity stated that the donations marked their biggest single donations ever, in a year of particularly high need.
The donations were made on behalf of President's Choice Financial MasterCard cardholders.
Heartwarming Holiday Campaigns
MasterCard Surprised Calgary Charities With Holiday Toy Donations
Trend Themes
1. Corporate Social Responsibility - Opportunity for businesses to embrace social causes and make a positive impact during the holiday season.
2. Gift-giving Assistance - The need for charities to provide toys and gifts to families in need during the holiday season presents an opportunity for businesses to support these efforts.
3. Massive Toy Donations - Companies can make a significant difference by providing large quantities of toys to charities, creating memorable impact and goodwill.
Industry Implications
1. Payments and Technology - Companies in the payments and technology industry can leverage their resources to support charitable causes and make a difference in the community.
2. Nonprofit and Charitable Organizations - Charities and nonprofit organizations have the opportunity to collaborate with businesses to enhance their gift-giving efforts during the holiday season.
3. Retail - Retailers can partner with charities to provide discounts, promotions, or even donate toys themselves to support families in need during the holiday season.