We have been grateful for the opportunity to support our clients as they opened up access to their content, created new collections for easy access to pandemic materials, and rapidly developed new ways of supporting remote learners and researchers. (Read more about how Silverchair clients leveraged various technology partnerships to support these efforts here.)
Internally, Silverchair teams have sustained an inspiring pace of momentum, innovation, and service while being physically displaced and emotionally disrupted: Improving processes, training, and documentation; executing seamless migrations; and launching several new platform tools. We are thankful for and proud of the talented team members who have committed their energies to our mission.
An important part of what makes our colleagues great is the way their commitment and passion apply to all areas of their lives, including their support of our broader community and world. In 2020, Silverchair employees donated an average of 30 hours and $1000 each to charitable causes. Organizations supported by Silverchair staff are included below.
Silverchair’s location in Charlottesville has always set us apart, and it is important to us to give back to this community that has given so much to us. Earlier this year, when we expanded our offices to include the storefront on Charlottesville’s downtown pedestrian mall, we dedicated the front windows to the display of work by local artists working in a wide variety of media. Our office activities are built intentionally to support local businesses and sustainable practices and our employees regularly surpass goals in the annual drive for our local food bank (raising enough in 2020 to provide more than 8500 meals for our neighbors in need). Silverchair also regularly sponsors such local events as the TomTom Cities Rising Summit on "The Small City Moment: Big ideas for right now," which aims to forge the path to a stronger community.
Finally, we were proud to support SSP as an inaugural sponsor of their new Generations Fund, an endowment fund established to provide sustainable funding for SSP’s Fellowship, Mentoring, and Diversity & Inclusion programs, with the aim of creating a strong and diverse next generation of scholarly communication professionals.
We are so proud to be a part of this community of dedicated and charitable individuals and organizations, and we look forward to what we will build together in 2021 and beyond.
As a token of our gratitude, Silverchair has made a donation to On Our Own Charlottesville in the name of the Silverchair Community.
Charities & Organizations Supported by Silverchairians include:
- American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): The ACLU is a nonpartisan organization whose mission is to realize the promises of the United States Constitution for all and expand the reach of its guarantees.
- Blue Ridge Area Food Bank: A favorite cause of the Silverchair community, Silverchairians raised more than $2100 in our company fundraiser, and many also contribute individually in cash and food donations.
- Catchafire: An online volunteering program created by the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation with projects and requests from nearly 200 regional organizations.
- The Center for Nonprofit Excellence: The CNE provides education, consulting, and resources to create stronger nonprofits. Their recent Philanthropy Day on the theme of "How to build a just community" featured Airbnb's Melissa Thomas-Hunt, Head of Global Diversity and Belonging.
- Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA: Since 2005, the CSPCA has maintained one of the few No Kill communities in the entire nation.
- The Charlottesville Area Community Foundation (CACF): CACF works with local residents, nonprofits, as well as public and private organizations to facilitate philanthropy and improve the quality of life in our area.
- Cultivate Charlottesville: In addition to working with students and managing nine learning gardens, Cultivate Charlottesville collaborates with Charlottesville City Schools to consistently connect students with fresh healthy food.
- Cville Craft Aid : A volunteer-run group that serves to identify humans in need and then directs handcrafted products to these groups to provide support. Current projects include sewing masks for local hospitals.
- The Haven: The Haven endeavors to end homelessness in the greater Charlottesville community. Community members can give supplies for the kitchen or day shelter needs.
- Heifer International: Their mission is to end hunger and poverty in a sustainable way by supporting and investing alongside local farmers and their communities.
- Light House Studio: Light House Studio equips young people with the skills and confidence to tell their stories and build community through collaborative filmmaking. We seek to foster a community where Charlottesville’s young people flourish as students, storytellers, and citizens.
- Live Arts: Through live performing arts, Live Arts forges a deep and lasting bond with its community of volunteers, its community of audience members, its community of Charlottesville and beyond.
- Mapping Cville: This project aims to examine equity through history, mapping racial covenants, infrastructure, and more.
- On Our Own Charlottesville: On Our Own’s mission is to provide free peer support, self-help, education, guidance, and referral services for adults experiencing significant problems in their lives due to mental health and substance use challenges.
- Piedmont Environmental Council: Aims to promote and protect the Virginia Piedmont's rural economy, natural resources, history, and beauty.
- The Ronald McDonald House: The Ronald McDonald House of Charlottesville is the only organization that provides a temporary home-away- from-home for families whose children are receiving treatment for a serious illness or injury in Charlottesville.
- The Rutherford Institute: TRI provides legal services in the defense of civil liberties and to educate the public on important issues affecting their constitutional freedoms. The Institute provides its legal services at no charge to those whose constitutional and human rights have been threatened or violated.
- Virginia Institute of Autism: Dedicated to helping people overcome the challenges of autism through innovative, evidence-based programs in education, outreach and adult services.
- World Wildlife Foundation: "Our mission is to conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on Earth." Their work centers on six areas: food, climate, freshwater, wildlife, forests, and oceans.
- …and many more local and global causes