Bioventus’ BUILD ERG Delivers Holiday Happiness in Durham and Memphis

 

Nearly 250 kids will have very happy holidays this year, thanks to the Black Employees United in Leadership and Diversity (BUILD) ERG at Bioventus.

BUILD members in Durham hosted their Second Annual Toy Drive in partnership with the Durham Rescue Mission.

  • The goal: Collect 500 toys
  • The results: 720+ toys collected, including 34 kids’ bikes!
  • The impact: 240 children will each receive 3 gifts

In Memphis, BUILD supported the Prison Fellowship Angel Tree, which helps churches strengthen relationships between incarcerated parents and their children.

  • The goal: Sponsor 10 families
  • Mission: Accomplished!
  • The impact: BUILD delivered gifts to each family

BUILD co-leader James Ellis, who grew up in a single-parent household, says the toy drive holds “personal significance for me, having experienced moments as a child when a community program like this could have made a positive impact. There were occasions when needs took precedence over wants in our household.”

Tammie Midgett our BUILD co-leader in Memphis enthusiastically shared that due to the teamwork of our employee here in Memphis,  “We supported 11 Angel Tree babies and collected over 30 presents to include toys, clothing and sports equipment. Three volunteers, including myself, are now headed to deliver these gifts to their homes.”

DEI Council Chairperson, Kimberly Cox adds, “The toy drive demonstrates the power of community coming together to create moments of joy for families. Bioventus’ contributions are part of a beacon of hope that ensures children have holidays filled with the warmth of a caring community.”

Our BUILD Team and DEI Council thank all their colleagues who contributed to the effort, as well as Bioventus’ Executive Leadership Team for supporting BUILD to ensure the toy drive’s success.

 

The Durham Rescue Mission provides food, clothing, permanent supportive housing, vocational training, job placement, and other services to men, women, and children in Durham, Chapel Hill and Raleigh, North Carolina.