Philanthropy and public service have always been a part of the fabric of life at BBH. As practiced by the second- and third- generation Browns and by the Harrimans and their generation, this commitment was largely a matter of personal or family interest.

In recent decades, however, these individual acts of generosity have become embedded in the culture of BBH, with many more Partners and employees actively engaged in initiatives that help deepen the connection to the communities in which they live and work.

Some of these initiatives take the form of direct financial contributions and employee charitable giving with a focus on basic needs and education. In 2017, firm- and employee-giving campaigns together raised several million dollars, a considerable part of which went to the annual fund drives for United Way, with which BBH has had a relationship for 44 years. In addition to external giving, the firm also provides charitable support for its own. In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, which devastated the East Coast of the United States in 2012, BBH set up a global Employee Relief Fund, which provides financial assistance to employees recovering from catastrophic events. Five years later, the Employee Relief Fund had awarded scores of grants to employees in times of need.

What makes BBH’s philanthropic and charitable initiatives special, though, is their emphasis on participation, as Partners and employees see fit to donate not only their money but also their time and talent. Roland Harriman understood the power of this approach. “If you get out ahead of a volunteer, be prepared to run like hell to keep from being trampled from behind,” he said in 1975, at the creation of the Harriman Award, which is given annually by the American Red Cross to an outstanding volunteer.

BBH recognized this long-standing ethic of community service with the launch of BBHcares (Community Action Relies on Everyone’s Support) in 1994.

As the firm’s main employee volunteer program, BBHcares unified many individual acts of giving under one umbrella. In 2001, BBHcares went global, adding London and Dublin. Together, they have done everything from hiking Mount Fuji in Japan to serving meals at Rosie’s Place (a refuge for poor and homeless women) in Boston to beautifying public schools in Chicago.

This commitment to volunteerism only seemed to deepen in the long wake of the 2008 financial crisis, as volunteer activities in 2011 doubled from the year before. That year, the Dublin office partnered with the Peter McVerry Trust to raise money for the homeless, while the Hong Kong and Tokyo offices participated in the Trailwalker events organized by Oxfam, the global anti-poverty organization.

Beyond the BBHcares program, there is the Employee Giving Circle, which enables employees to share personal charitable interests with fellow employees. All told, BBH Partners and employees donated nearly 4,000 volunteer hours to our 54 charitable partners in 2018.