Careers Blog

Amplifying community impact across Vanguard’s U.S. sites

April 30th, 2026 • 5 min •

Two people smiling while holding a Fall Festival photo frame during a Community 365 event on a grassy campus area in Arizona

At Vanguard, volunteering is part of who we are. Across our campuses, crew members show up as volunteers, giving their time and energy to support their communities, build meaningful connections, and champion the causes they care about. To celebrate National Volunteer Month, we’re highlighting how our year-round efforts are making a meaningful impact through #VanguardCommunity365 programming.

Arizona’s Fall Festival strengthens community connections

In Arizona, the annual Fall Festival brings crew, community groups, and partners together for a site wide celebration of service and belonging. What began as a small gathering in the Arizona courtyard has grown into a signature event that energizes the Scottsdale campus. In 2025, nearly 1,000 crew took part—volunteering, connecting, and supporting meaningful community causes.

Event highlights included:

Creating nearly 100 Reading Buddies for Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
Crafting about 100 bookmarks and collecting books for Southwest Human Development.
Welcoming guests from the Special Olympics at the Festival.
Signing up 59 volunteers for the upcoming Special Olympics Volunteer Time Off (VTO) days.
Registering 92 crew for Phoenix Children’s 5K.

“To see hundreds of crew volunteering side by side is leadership in action—and a clear reflection of our commitment to service.”

—Cici L.
Senior Manager and Fall Festival Lead
Personal Investor

Two crew holding a Fall Festival photo frame with ‘Community 365’ branding while standing outdoors at a campus event

Two people posing together while holding a Fall Festival photo frame at an outdoor Community 365 event.

Three people standing side by side outdoors at a campus community event, smiling, with other attendees visible in the background.

Two people talking at an outdoor Community 365 table during the Arizona Fall Festival with other attendees and trees in the background.

Building from the ground up in Dallas

Dallas may be Vanguard’s newest U.S. site, but its commitment to community stewardship is already deeply rooted. Through experiences like the Global Day of Impact, Dallas crew partnered with KaBOOM! and local educators to help build a new playground in an area impacted by playspace inequity—working alongside families who helped design the space .

“Seeing our site come alive during a major service day—the energy, collaboration, and sense of shared purpose were unforgettable. People who hadn’t met before were working side by side, laughing, and leaving the day feeling proud of the impact we made together. Moments like that really capture the spirit of Dallas community stewardship.”

—Nicholas P.
Business Project Manager
Marketing and Communications

A photo featuring a large group of Vanguard Dallas crew and community members gathered at Cosmos Montessori during the 2025 Global Day of Impact in Dallas, Texas.

Vanguard Dallas crew volunteers lifting and installing playground equipment during a Kaboom playground build at a local Montessori school.

A group of Vanguard Dallas crew standing together after participating in the 2025 Texas Strong Start for Kids 5K as part of the Community 365 campaign. Many are wearing red Vanguard t-shirts, and a dog is in the front row of the group picture.

Committed crew in California

California’s year-round volunteer engagement came to life through hands on work at the Alameda County Food Bank, where a small but committed group of crew sorted and repackaged fresh produce for distribution to more than 400 local organizations. Experiences like this reflect how our volunteers consistently support their communities beyond specific moments of recognition.

“Volunteering at the Alameda County Food Bank brought our team together in a really meaningful way. It was a great reminder that even small, collective efforts can have a real impact.”

—Mariah B.
Administrative Associate
Financial Advisor Services

Five volunteers stand around a packing table in a large warehouse, sorting and bagging carrots.

Service and stewardship in North Carolina

In North Carolina, year round volunteerism is woven into everyday campus life through the Launch Zone and the community garden—spaces that invite crew to serve, connect, and recharge.

“It’s not just a place to grow and donate food—it’s a space for crew to recharge and reflect, showing our commitment to both our community and our people.”

—Ryan C.
Client Representatives Manager and Garden Lead
Personal Investor

The highly visible Launch Zone encourages spontaneous participation, with crew regularly coming together to create resources like Reading Buddies that help children build confidence and joy in reading.

“There’s something truly special about the care that goes into each one, knowing it will make a difference for a child.”

—Raschelle M.
Business Project Manager and Launch Zone Lead
Personal Investor

Five crew members stand in raised garden beds holding small plants. The group wears gloves and casual outdoor clothing, with garden plots, fencing, and nearby buildings visible in the background.

Seven crew members sit around a wooden picnic table under a covered outdoor structure. A small bundle of freshly harvested radishes is displayed on the table, with trees and a fence visible in the background.

A large group of crew members wearing matching red shirts pose together inside a warehouse style space. The group stands in rows against a tall concrete wall, with signage and doors visible in the background.

Five crew members sit at a long table indoors, working on a hands on volunteer project with craft materials spread across the table. Large windows and a modern office space can be seen in the background.

Crew connections in Washington, DC

In DC, crew bring volunteerism directly into the office through pop up events designed to support their local partners and make community service part of everyday work life.

These moments create space for crew to celebrate one another and act on a shared commitment to community engagement. Together, these pop-up experiences reflect how DC continues to build connections and impact through accessible, crew-centered service opportunities.

“Individual commitment to a team effort—DC crew come together to celebrate one another and our commitment to community engagement. Great people doing great work and having a great time!”

—Tonya B.
Senior Office Manager
Office of the General Counsel

Five DC crew members stand and sit around a tall wooden table in an office workspace, holding paper clocks while assembling volunteer kits. Office shelves, chairs, and glass walled rooms are visible in the background.

Eight DC crew stand around a tall wooden table in an office common area with snacks and drinks arranged on the tabletop. Shelving, glass walled rooms, and a television screen are visible in the background.

PA interns lend a hand at the Launch Zone

Each summer at Vanguard’s Malvern campus, interns combine hands on career learning with community impact through the PA Launch Zone. Between meetings and training sessions, they help assemble learning kits, sort books, and support seasonal campaigns—contributing to a program that sends more than 30,000 in kind items into the community each year.

For many interns, the Launch Zone offers a first, tangible introduction to Vanguard’s philanthropic work and an immediate way to support children and families across the Philadelphia region. Together, these moments reflect how National Volunteer Month celebrates a culture of service woven into everyday experiences across PA and beyond.

Five Vanguard interns wearing red shirts that read “Community 365” stand in a warehouse space, the Launch Zone, each holding a small stuffed animal. Storage shelves and boxes are visible in the background.

Several interns wearing red “Community 365” shirts sit around a table in a warehouse workspace, drawing and writing on cardboard boxes with markers. Crates of supplies, shelves, and labeled boxes are visible in the background.

: A group of interns wearing red shirts work at tables in a warehouse workspace, sorting and decorating craft materials inside plastic bins. Shelving, boxes, and supplies fill the background as volunteers work side by side.

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Amplifying community impact across Vanguard’s U.S. sites

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