Sequoia’s Deep Commitment to Social Impact
Relationships are the cornerstone of living a full life. At Ryan House, we witness this every day with the children and families we serve. In fact, we’re often told that many of their most cherished memories come from the people they meet at Ryan House and the bonds they form during their stays. Ryan House is grateful to share these values not just with the families we serve but also with many of our community supporters, including Sequoia Consulting Group, an organization that has given an abundance of time and resources over the years. Sequoia, like Ryan House, is in the relationship business. They help companies manage and measure all the ways they invest in their people, from healthcare benefits to compensation to HR administration and workforce analytics. Considering the work they do in healthcare, it’s natural for Sequoia to have a strong emphasis on social impact in supporting organizations like Ryan House. Sequoia’s Social Impact Program focuses on three pillars: health and wellbeing, economic opportunity and employment, and access to quality education for youth in need. “We engage our global team in their local impact endeavors, and in every office location we partner with non-profits that uphold these pillars,” said Diann Lawson, director of social impact for Sequoia. “We want to have close relationships with our non-profit partners, which means that we advocate for their cause, volunteer with them, get to know them personally, and provide financial support. Our goal is to empower our non-profit partners to serve their clients and to create lasting and transformative change in the communities where we live and work.” Sequoia first learned about Ryan House when its Arizona-based Senior Client Experience Manager, Alex Dembow, attended our annual Community Breakfast fundraiser in 2018 and instantly knew Sequoia would want to champion Ryan House’s meaningful cause. They did. Since that time, Sequoia has hosted pantry
and holiday toy donation drives, cooked and served meals for families attending Enduring Ties dinners, and volunteered at Ryan House events. Most recently, Sequoia hosted a networking event at their Tempe office and featured Ryan House as their non-profit partner to raise local awareness for our mission. Sequoia is so invested in its social impact values that when the company meets its social impact goals, employees are given a bonus that they’re able to direct to one of their non-profit partners. Last year, Sequoia was able to write a significant check to Ryan House on behalf of the employees who felt moved to support our mission. “It’s a testament to our team, and it’s really clear that we care about this organization and want to continue to support, raise awareness for, and care for these families,” Lawson proudly shared. “One of the ways we define success as a business is how we support our communities in need.” Dembow added that it’s fulfilling to see Sequoia invest so heavily in Ryan House and take a genuine interest in building relationships within Ryan House’s community. “It’s so special to have that footprint that’s bigger than us and to see the kids who are at Ryan House benefit from our support,” Dembow said. “It gives us a chance to think bigger than our day-to-day corporate work.” Dembow also shared how Ryan House truly is a special place. Their staff is always adding what she calls “sparkle” to the lives of those around them and provides a special touch to make everyone’s days brighter and more meaningful. “There’s such care and lightness at Ryan House,” she said. “They go out of their way to make people feel supported and cared for, and I think that’s really beautiful.” Lawson followed by sharing that the Sequoia team is honored to have a strong relationship with Ryan House and looks forward to their continued partnership.
“One of the ways we define success as a business is how we support our communities in need.”
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