INVESTING TO IMPROVE LIVES™
Caring in action
Legg Mason Charitable Foundation Community GrantsMore Than $20 Million
Philanthropic and Corporate Social Responsibility EffortsOVER $2 MILLION PER YEAR
Funding of Education Programs Supporting Underserved Youth80% OF ANNUAL GIVING
Time Devoted by Employees to Community Volunteerism3,000 HOURS YEARLY
To give is our greatest opportunity
We have a long history of supporting community well-being through our Legg Mason Charitable Foundation – helping to provide recreation, food and shelter, holiday outreach, varied human services, and civic-support programs – with a belief that our investment can have the most impact if we focus on education and on non-profit partners with strong grassroots initiatives and a commitment to their communities.
Our key philanthropic partnerships include:
Baltimore Curriculum Project
Baltimore Educational Scholarship Trust
Baltimore School for the Arts
Books for Kids
Bottom Line
Boys Hope Girls Hope
Catholic Charities
Central Scholarship
Childcare Learning Centers
Children's Scholarship Fund
CollegeBound Foundation
Family Centers
Haven Academy
Living Classrooms
Maryland Family Network
New Leaders
Partners in Excellence
Samuel Ready Scholarships
St. Ignatius Loyola Academy
Swings for Scholars
Teach for America
The Walters Art Museum
The YMCA
Stronger Communities = Stronger Possibilities
Legg Mason's primary focus is on education, particularly in the concern of underserved youth.
We believe grassroots enterprises with strong local presences can benefit most from our contributions. Given that focus, we provide our key community partners with both financial resources and employee time and effort.
The needs we strive to serve:
- Strong and innovative principals
- Well-trained teachers with appropriate resources
- Funding high-quality early education and after-school programs
- Scholarship funding for at-risk children
We are privileged to partner with St. Ignatius Loyola Academy in Baltimore – a tuition-free independent Jesuit school for underserved boys in grades 6-8.
- Our financial contributions help fund student scholarships and building renovations.
- Our employees volunteer to work with students and provide skills-based assistance to support infrastructure.
- Legg Mason professionals are helping to relaunch the school’s website.
- Fundraising opportunities promote employee interest.
Our greatest reward is helping our partners to succeed:
- 98% of Saint Ignatius Loyola Academy graduates receive a high school diploma.
- 88% of Academy graduates matriculate at post-secondary educational institutions.
Reach Out. Give Back.
At Legg Mason, we encourage our associates to be advocates for the global communities in which we live and work. Helping to enrich our communities, in turn, enriches our own lives … and spirit.
Youth Mentoring
Giving guidance is very gratifying. We mentor our young adults in many ways via youth employment programs through Cristo Rey, Urban Alliance and Youth Works, and we have an award-winning workplace mentoring program for Big Brothers Big Sisters Patterson High School youth.
Employee Resource Group (ERG) Community Partnerships
Our seven resource groups give Legg Mason associates a chance to connect with non-profits to help carry out their respective missions. Select partnerships include Bottom Line, Samuel Ready Scholarships, the American Heart Association and Boys Hope Girls Hope.
Board Leadership Program
Our award-winning program links interested professionals with non-profit board service opportunities. Governance training, board matching and continual learning forums are some key components of the program.
Environmental Volunteerism
Multiple community beautification and clean-up activities take place during our annual celebration of Earth Week. Our Environmental Sustainability Council sponsors an Oyster Garden initiative that promotes the growth of Chesapeake Bay’s declining oyster population.
Dragon Boat Races
What do you get when you combine 32 employees and over 40 hours of practice? An unprecedented $57,000 raised by Legg Mason. Every two years we take to the oars to raise funds for the Catholic Charities of Baltimore.
PROTECTING OUR PLANET. OUR PEOPLE. OUR INDUSTRY.
As investors, we are hard-wired to envision the long term, and we must uphold responsible stewardship of investments. Likewise, our investment affiliates have deep appreciation for how Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors can contribute to the long-term health of businesses and the markets.
Over the past several years, Legg Mason, at the corporate level, has set out to both increase our efficiency in operations and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We run our business more effectively and have a positive impact on the environment.
The field of sustainable investing is rapidly evolving. The emphasis now is on actively finding companies with quality attributes — environmental and product safety, workforce diversity, employee retention and strong corporate governance — that can positively impact future shareholder value.
At ClearBridge Investments, all companies considered for investment are given an ESG rating which is updated annually. Likewise, at Martin Currie, governance and sustainability considerations are fully integrated into the investment process.
Eight of Legg Mason’s affiliates including Brandywine Global, Clarion Partners, ClearBridge Investments, EnTrustPermal, Martin Currie, RARE Infrastructure, Royce & Associates and Western Asset are all signatories to the Principals for Responsible Investment, reflecting the importance of that commitment.
Legg Mason benchmarks its efforts against standards set by leading ESG organizations.
In partnership with sustainability advocate Ceres, we ensure that our stakeholders stay fully aware of our sustainability efforts. Our ongoing engagement and reporting keeps our purpose alive and encourages diverse perspectives on our progress. Carbon Disclosure Project: in recognition of our energy-use reporting, Legg Mason received an A level rating in 2016 for its commitment to climate disclosure and overall climate performance. We have been reporting to CDP since 2008.
Corporate Social Responsibility Report
We provide our many stakeholders with a clear, comprehensive update on the programs and activities we offer in all areas of sustainability.
Leadership in Energy Efficiency & Design (LEED) Certification
Our corporate headquarters in Baltimore has obtained LEED gold certification for the space it occupies in Harbor East.
Environmental Sustainability Council
In conjunction with our Corporate Citizen team and led by Investor Relations, our group focuses on education, and in conjunction with our Corporate Social Responsibility team and led by our Head of Investor Relations, this group focuses on education and awareness, operations and efficiency, carbon reporting and data collection. With the CFO’s executive sponsorship, engagement and support, our ESG initiatives continue to expand across the firm.
Environmental Volunteerism
We celebrate Earth Week each year with a variety of community beautification and clean-up activities. Our Environmental Sustainability Council sponsors an Oyster Garden initiative that promotes the growth of Chesapeake Bay’s declining oyster population.
Global Efforts
Delivering outstanding results, our London office has implemented various progressive environmental programs, including a wildlife roof and zero landfill waste. Two of our global affiliates, Martin Currie and RARE, also demonstrate their commitment to the environment through their ESG initiatives, as well as through volunteerism and community initiatives.
Investing To Improve Lives™ Through CSR
We've redefined our approach to corporate social responsibility by focusing on six dimensions that are central to our mission of Investing to Improve Lives™.
“We view CSR as the umbrella framework that connects, aligns and advances our work. Our commitment is the foundation on which we base our responsibilities to our employees and the communities in which we live and work.”
1 “JUST Capital” and the JUST Seal Logo are service marks or certification marks of JUST Capital Foundation, Inc. For JUST Ranking Award Information, visit justcapital.com
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