NORWALK, Conn., Sept. 5, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- This week more than 850 Diageo North America employees are giving back to communities where the company operates through a series of projects and events across the continent. Today hundreds of employees from Diageo's Norwalk, Connecticut headquarters and New York City office are taking part in the inaugural Diageo Community Activity and Relief Efforts ("Diageo C.A.R.E.s") event through a series of projects centered around three key areas of: environmental impact, thriving communities, and alcohol in society.  The hub of the activities will be in and around Stamford, Connecticut's Mill River Park, where participants will roll up their sleeves and contribute to a series of beautification projects, help provide food to those in need, and educate on the importance of responsible drinking.

"Giving back to the communities where we operate has always been a priority for Diageo and core to our purpose of Celebrating Life, Every Day, Everywhere, and through Diageo C.A.R.E.s, we give various opportunities to our employees to get involved," said Deirdre Mahlan, President, Diageo North America. "This is our largest collective volunteer effort in North America to-date, and we're excited to be able to partner with such impactful local organizations."

To kick-off volunteer efforts, Diageo teamed up with Mill River Park Collaborative, a local non-profit organization whose mission is to create and sustain a world-class park in the heart of Stamford. During the day, volunteers will have the chance to help transform a section of the park into a multi-purpose space for the community to enjoy. Projects will include landscaping as well as the creation of a new leisure and entertainment space, and sports and recreation facilities including a bocce ball court, dog park, board walk and mini-golf course.

"It is exciting to see companies like Diageo and its employees making the investment to give back to their communities," said Dudley Williams, Mill River Park Collaborative President and CEO. "We hope that through this partnership we can continue to bring to life the community vision of a central park in the heart of downtown."

In addition to the projects within Mill River Park, participants will also have the chance to work with international hunger relief organization Rise Against Hunger, to help package and pack 20,000 parcels of food, which will then be distributed to those in need across the globe.

"Diageo volunteers always bring lots of energy and enthusiasm - you can tell that social impact is part of their corporate culture," said Toni Marraccini, Rise Against Hunger Senior Global Account Manager. "Thanks to their efforts today, Rise Against Hunger will be able to feed 200 people in one of our programs for an entire year, bringing us one step closer to a world without hunger."

Simultaneously, at the University of Connecticut, Stamford campus, Diageo will educate the public about the importance of responsible alcohol consumption. Volunteers will showcase DECISIONS, a 360° virtual reality experience that puts users in the front seat of a devastating car crash and challenges them to think twice before allowing themselves, or others, to get behind the wheel after drinking. Diageo's "Party's Over" 360° virtual reality experience which provides perspective on binge drinking, as well as the company's "DrinkIQ quiz," will also be showcased.

Diageo has partnered with local companies in Stamford including Eastern Land Management, Feinsod Hardware, The Home Depot, Mayborn Group (Tommee Tippee), and O&G Industries. 

Employees from many locations across the North America market will also be participating in Diageo C.A.R.E.s' corporate day of service. Staff from Chicago will join employees from the Plainfield, IL production facility on a number of projects in partnership with their local United Way of Will County Partner Agencies. Teams from the Amherstburg, Ontario facility will volunteer in the Kingsville ACCESS County Community Support Services community garden.  Additional locations participating in a day of service include the new Guinness Open Gate Brewery and Barrel House in Baltimore, Maryland; Shelbyville, Kentucky; Bentonville, Arkansas; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Tullahoma, Tennessee.

Diageo supports a culture of giving and is proud to offer employees a competitive benefits package that includes five extra days per year, which can be used to serve the local community. To learn more about Diageo's work including its brands and company values, visit www.diageo.com.

About Diageo
Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan's whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange DEO and the London Stock Exchange DGE and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo's global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice. Follow us on Twitter for news and information about Diageo North America: @Diageo NA.

Media Contact:
Kristen Crofoot, Diageo
kristen.crofoot@diageo.com 
(917)445.2835

View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/diageo-north-america-employees-convene-for-local-volunteer-day-300706859.html

SOURCE Diageo North America