Thanksgiving may not be a holiday for the calorically faint-of-heart, but it turns out there’s one turkey-day activity that has some surprising health benefits: giving thanks. Time.com rounded up a bunch of studies on the positive effects of gratitude — it’s been found to improve heart health, physical health and sleep, create optimism and build friendships.
Yes, please.
At LS&&Co., we have a lot to be thankful for this year. Here are a few things of the many things we’re grateful for:
Inspiring Employees. Our employees are among the best and brightest (full disclosure: we’re biased). We’re continually inspired by the work they do — both inside our walls and out in their communities. This year, we celebrated the 15th anniversary of Community Day, our annual day of giving back. Tallying the impact showed that our dedicated employees have served more than 500,000 hours in 51 countries on Community Day alone. This year, our Community Ambassadors organized 230 volunteer projects in 119 cities around the globe.
World-Class Community Partners. Part of the legacy of our founder Levi Strauss is giving back to the communities where we live and work. Our community partners are an integral part of this equation and we continue to be blown away by their dedication and commitment. By working together, we’ve had the opportunity to create innovative and inspiring programs this year. In partnership with Goodwill, we launched a new donation-by-mail program to make it easier to donate clothing. Together with The Pollination Project, we awarded grants to youth environmental leaders like Kirsten Chavis and Padmanaban Gopalan. Through our partnership with Project WET we’ve been able to train employees around the globe how to teach young people about water conservation. And working with the 50 Fund, the legacy fund of the Super Bowl 50 Host Committee, we recognized five Rookie Playmakers making a difference in their communities.
Super suppliers. Our suppliers are integral to producing our products sustainably and allowing our products to get from our factories to our stores in responsible ways. We’re thankful for employees like Liz O’Neill, who is helping keep sustainability at the forefront of our global supply chain, as well as the factories and workers who partner with LS&Co. in implementing fair and safe practices for people and the planet.
Pioneering Practices. One of the great things about working for a 160-year-old start-up is that we’re always looking to the future. Whether we’re designing the perfect women’s jeans, collaborating with technology juggernauts, or re-envisioning what it means to create sustainable products, we’re thankful that our employees are always testing out new ideas and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
A Foundation for Progress. We’re grateful for long-term dedication of the Levi Strauss Foundation, which recently reached the remarkable milestone of $300 million granted to pioneering nonprofits in communities. We had the pleasure of speaking with many of these grantees — from one of the longest-standing to newer partners that are fighting against discrimination and standing up for equality for some of our world’s most marginalized groups.
Rich Heritage. We’re incredibly lucky to have such an amazing heritage that’s so well captured in the LS&Co. Archives. This year, we’re thankful we’ve had the opportunity to learn the stories behind some of the world’s oldest and rarest pieces, explore LS&Co.’s connections to Europe and Asia, and hear how the Archives is using technology to become more accessible.
One-of-a-Kind Fans. And of course, none of this would be possible without amazing fans. It seems practically everyone has a Levi’s® story, and we’re so grateful to those who’ve shared theirs with us this year and shown us what it really means to Live in Levi’s®. We’ve met people lending a hand, putting their pedals to the metal (while sporting jorts), changing the world, and letting their true selves shine through.
What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving? Let us know on Twitter @LeviStraussCo.
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