Creating safer communities
In 2013, former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords founded Giffords, an organization that works in partnership with a bipartisan spectrum of Americans who seek to promote gun safety while supporting second amendment rights.
As part of our commitment to invest in what matters – our clients, communities and culture – Mesirow in 2020 became a founding corporate Impact Partner of Giffords. Our participation in this program connects to our broader community engagement work, where we focus on building strong neighborhoods and lasting equity through education, financial literacy, family services and racial justice.
Like Giffords, we believe that everyone should be able to live, work and play in their community without the threat of gun violence. However, as we continue to see, gun violence is a tragic fact of everyday life in neighborhoods across the country. Improving overall outcomes in our communities – educating our youth, improving high school graduation rates, supporting family services, and even providing food and other necessities – works to interrupt the cycles of poverty and community violence.
Giffords sees the importance of bipartisan support for safer communities and works hand-in-hand with gun owners, as well as voters and elected officials on both sides of the aisle. And Americans see the importance of corporate involvement, asking CEOs to raise their voices on challenges facing society today.
Nearly 85% of Americans believe businesses have a responsibility to make their communities safer, and 7 in 10 say they are more favorable to companies that partner with organizations advocating for gun safety, education and awareness.
Last month, Giffords announced the launch of their Impact Network, which includes founding corporations Amalgamated Bank, DICK’S Sporting Goods, Kenneth Cole, Levi Strauss & Co., Lyft, Mesirow Financial, Northwell Health, Postmates, and TOMS. Together, these partner companies have committed nearly $1MM to gun violence prevention efforts.
We look forward to advancing this conversation in support of safer communities in Chicago and across the country.
Richard S. Price
Giffords Impact Partners press release
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