“One of the wonderful things about Stanford is the way in which so many members of our community give back to the world around us, whether it’s volunteering at a food bank or bringing in something for a donation drive, or going out to take your skills into the communities around Stanford,” said Provost Jenny Martinez in a video message kicking off the 2025 Cardinal at Work Cares giving campaign.

Provost Martinez’s message is one in a series of nine short videos featuring campus leaders and staff members sharing what giving back means to them.

Also new this year is a giving campaign Slack channel (#do-good-with-cardinal-at-work-cares) for Stanford staff to share acts of giving or kindness, celebrate the generosity of their colleagues, and draw inspiration from the creative ways people are making a difference. The channel will also keep members informed about donation drives and other efforts across the university.

“Giving back isn’t just an act of generosity – it’s an act of connection. It’s about recognizing our shared humanity and finding ways, large and small, to make a difference together,” said Elizabeth Zacharias, vice president for human resources.

This year’s campaign runs from Dec. 1 through Dec 19. Staff are encouraged to engage in meaningful acts of kindness and giving – whether it’s volunteering, supporting a local organization, helping a neighbor, or expressing gratitude to a colleague – and then to share their experience with the Stanford community.

“By sharing your story, you help build momentum and encourage others to do the same,” said Phyllis Stewart Pires, associate vice president with university human resources.