In less than two weeks, Avanir Pharmaceuticals set up an employee contribution campaign to help relief efforts for families impacted by COVID-19.

Avanir Pharmaceuticals, an Orange County-based pharmaceutical company working to deliver innovative solutions to people living with central nervous system conditions, was looking for an outreach partner and a way to give back during the COVID-19 pandemic. After seeing Orange County United Way launch the Pandemic Relief Fund, Avanir was eager to get involved and put its own corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts into action.

They needed a partner that could help them collect and provide relief funds to those who needed it. They wanted to move quickly, and spending a lot of time on campaign set-up wasn’t an option.

Avanir also wanted a system that allowed their more-than 400 employees and contractors working near their Aliso Viejo headquarters to help their Orange County neighbors, but also one that gave their more-than 200 employees who work across the nation the same opportunity to make donations in their own local communities.

Orange County United Way was the perfect fit.

With more than 1,200 dedicated affiliates working across the country, Orange County United Way had both the scale to help make a real difference in the lives of Orange County families, as well as the flexibility to direct funds to the towns and communities of its geographically diverse field staff – all from the same platform.

Once the decision was made, team members from Avanir and Orange County United Way were able to coordinate all contracts and paperwork, build a donation microsite and set up their own customized philanthropy cloud employee engagement platform in less than two weeks. Driven by Avanir employees’ incredible sense of urgency to help the most vulnerable families living in the communities where they live and work, the teams at Avanir and United Way were able to launch a giving campaign in a matter of days – a feat that can take companies five months or more.

A few days before the campaign launch, Avanir President and CEO Wa’el Hashad recorded a video announcing the start of the campaign, and further committed the company to match dollar-for-dollar every contribution made by an Avanir employee or contractor.

“It’s important for us all to remember that while we are still very much engaged in this battle for a better tomorrow,” Avanir President and CEO Wa’el Hashad said, “it is never too early to begin rebuilding our communities. I’m very grateful for all of the hard work from our partners at United Way, and equally inspired by the generosity and community spirit shown by this team.”

In the first two days, over $22,000 was raised for the Pandemic Relief Fund. These funds, and all those generated throughout the Avanir’s CSR efforts, will be used to help prevent growth in homelessness due to economic impacts of COVID-19, support frontline responders, provide support for low-income students, and deliver additional support to United Way’s non-profit partners, such as local food banks and other vital community services.

While there is still much more work to be done as our nation recovers from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s through partnerships like this with Avanir Pharmaceuticals and other local Orange County businesses that we are able to ensure the overall success and well-being of Orange County families and beyond. This is a great example of the importance and impact that CSR can have on the community and within the organization itself. Now more than ever, we must work together to create healthier communities to ensure the overall prosperity and success of all of those who have been impacted.