“At Yum! Brands, we believe in the power of the arts to educate, inspire and empower all students, especially those who are classified as ‘at-risk’. Working with our local Fund for Arts organization we created the Yum! Family Series to leverage the arts and make a difference in the lives of children in our community.”
- Jonathan Blum, Chief Public Affairs Officer, Yum! Brands Inc.
Believing a diverse and energetic city helps to attract and retain top talent from all over the world, Yum! Brands, Inc. is a strong supporter of the arts in Louisville, KY. In addition to annually donating more than $700,000 to local arts organizations, Yum! also provides marketing and advertising support, and pro-bono leadership and expertise to the organizations receiving support from the Yum! Brands Foundation. The company received a 2013 BCA 10 Award, nominated by Fund for the Arts.
The most significant arts-related project supported by the company is the Yum! Family Series, which provides family-friendly programming through a partnership with the Funds for the Arts and seven local arts organizations. Initiated by Yum! Brands to encourage family-friendly arts programming and to promote greater access to the arts, the program allows families outside of the company to experience arts programs at a greatly reduced cost. The sponsorship offers a broad range of families access to the arts, particularly those individuals who would not otherwise have an opportunity because of economic disadvantage.
With an emphasis on education, programs of the Yum! Family Series provide field trip opportunities for local students. Some programs also include student performers and provide high-level training in orchestra, theatre, choir, and performing arts. The Yum! Family series also provides quality after-school programs for at-risk youth through after-school tutoring, theatre, and choir programs.
Yum! Brands also incorporates the arts into the company’s culture by encouraging employees who are passionate about the arts to get involved, allowing them time off to do so. The company also generously matches employee gifts to the arts on a dollar for dollar basis, and provides board support on behalf of employees serving on local arts and culture boards. In 2013, Yum! Brands launched a global volunteer program to promote volunteerism in local communities. Within this new program, if an employee team partners with an arts organization and wins the company competition, the partner organization receives an unrestricted grant.
Bringing the arts into the office, the company occasionally hosts team building events that incorporate an artistic component, knowing it allows employees to truly tap into their personal creativity and bring that back to the business. Yum! Brands is also proud to have a corporate band that is part of the culture team and is highlighted at monthly meetings and events. Opportunities to support and engage with the local arts are communicated regularly to employees. All employees of Yum! Brands are encouraged to take advantage of the many arts performances and exhibits available in their local communities.
Photo: Louisville Youth Choir, which provides choral training to over 200 youth. The children are captured performing at the Grand Ole Opry.