Being of Service: Spotlight on Unilever + United for America

In a time when communities across the world are struggling, there is a need for brands to provide guidance and support. Beyond shifting messaging, how can companies truly step into leadership by demonstrating themselves as vital to people’s lives?

As part of our SoundCheck campaign, we are highlighting brands and advertisers who are doing it right. Enter: Unilever and their new United For America initiative.

In today’s podcast, Priscilla Valls, VP of Agency, Advertiser, and Industry Partnerships, chatted with Jeni Gardner, Unilever’s Senior Director of Media for North America, to discuss how Unilever is not just talking the talk, they’re walking the walk.

Jeni also discusses how to rally as an organization, what’s important for a strategic media mix, and how audio plays a role in her life. To start thinking about how your brand can rise to the moment, take a listen now.

About Unilever and United for America

In March, Unilever announced a donation of 100 million euro globally. And in the U.S, they’re donating over $20 million worth of products such as Dove, Knorr and Seventh Generation cleaning products, through organizations like Feeding America and Direct Relief. Their efforts include both financial support and creative acknowledgement — Unilever has donated more than 200,000 masks to local New Jersey hospitals, and created a film to recognize their hard-working factory workers helping create essential products, and keeping store shelves stocked.

Giving is greater when we all get involved. On May 21st, Unilever announced its first annual Day of Service. Unilever donated the equivalent of one day’s worth of the products produced at their US factories to Feeding America and Direct Relief. Their corporate employees and partners virtually volunteered with national and local organizations, and consumers were invited to send letters of gratitude to the 11,000+ essential food bank employees across the country.

Already, Unilever brands have contributed the following:

• Dove and Vaseline donated $2M to direct relief in the US to provide PPE to frontline health care workers

• Dove portfolio of brands donated products and services towards Feeding America, and 2000,000 masks to local hospitals in NJ, where they are based

• Many brands created hygiene messages to remind people of the importance and best way to wash your hands

• Shea Moisture created a fund of $1MM to support women of color business owners who are helping their communities during this time

• Hellmann’s launched a Food Relief Fund that is committed to providing 30,000 meals to healthcare workers in NYC, Hellmann’s birthplace

• Lipton donated 1M cups of tea to hospital staff, frontline workers and food pantries

• Knorr is working with nonprofit partners like The Food Trust and A Better Life Foundation in local communities to provide access to nutritious food through this crisis and beyond

For more insights, content, and best practices visit SoundCheck.

This podcast was recorded on May 20, 2020. Executive Producer: Jocelyn Hudak Editor: Ciara Fanlo Host: Priscilla Valls