Federated Media, an integrated media and content marketing company, has taken strides to give back to the Austin community through its volunteer program, FM Connects. Founded July 2015, FM Connects focuses on engaging employees and boosting morale by doing good, building connections and enriching the lives of others through volunteering, partnerships, sustainability efforts and more.

The Federated Media volunteer program is entirely employee-driven and led. This past year, FM Connects has organized and participated in efforts including four hosted blood drives, environmental initiatives, books-to-prisoner programs, cardmaking for children who are hospitalized, barbecues at a local children’s shelter, homelessness awareness, farming and gardening and more. FM Connects also hosted a school supply drive donation ceremony at a local Austin elementary school hit by flooding three times. Most recently, FM Connects hosted children from the local Boys & Girls Club in-office for a Halloween event including desk-to-desk trick or treating, advertising education sessions, a haunted maze, and games/activities.

The FM Connects Austin model proved successful and expanded into offices in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco within seven months.

FM Connects plans on expanding to encourage Austin's greater media and advertising community to participate in local volunteerism. Volunteers and companies interested in participating and partnering can contact [email protected].

To learn more, visit http://blog.federatedmedia.net/fm-connects-our-story/.