Mind gets the Penguin Random House staff vote

Tuesday, 13 May 2014 Mind

Staff from Penguin Random House UK and DK have voted in their hundreds for Mind, the mental health charity to be the focus of their charity support in 2014/15.

This will be the first year that Penguin Random House has selected a charity partner since they merged in July 2013. In April London based staff were invited to suggest any charity that they would like Penguin Random House to collectively support over the coming year, which informed a shortlist of six charities put to the staff vote.

Mind will work with Penguin Random House UK and DK to create a programme of activity which will involve staff in ongoing campaigning and fundraising throughout the year as well as tailored projects which tap into some of the talent and expertise of their 1,500+ staff based in London.

The first staff fundraiser will be the Penguin Random House Walk in June when hundreds of staff from the company’s three publishing sites will don their trainers and pound the London pavements for 10 miles in support of the charity.

Tom Weldon, CEO of Penguin Random House UK said: “At both Penguin and Random House we have a long history of supporting our local communities, and it is something of which we are all proud. Mind was the clear frontrunner in the staff vote so I have no doubt that everyone will be 100% behind the partnership and get creative with the ways in which we can support them over the coming year.”

John Duhigg, CEO of DK added: "DK are incredibly proud to be working with Mind, as the charity of choice, as chosen by all our staff. We look forward to a fun-filled fundraising time and making a big impact on those lives affected by mental illnesses."

Emily McCall, Corporate Partnerships Manager at Mind said: "We are thrilled to have been chosen by Penguin Random House staff to be their charity of the year. We have been overwhelmed by this fantastic response, and our partnership with Penguin Random House will help us continue to be there for the 1 in 4 people who experience a mental health problem every year.”