Inclusion Matters

Earlier this year, a Fairfield, Idaho, organization called Camp Rainbow Gold introduced a bold idea: to build six cabins in just three days. Their goal was to increase the safe and accessible housing options at their medical camp, Hidden Paradise. Hidden Paradise hosts thousands of Idahoans a year, allowing visitors of all ages and abilities to immerse themselves in the magic of nature. Founded and built by Camp Rainbow Gold for pediatric cancer patients and their families to step away from everyday life, Hidden Paradise hosts many other camps, too, and needed new cabins to accommodate growing demand. ... Read More

In 2019, we added inclusion to our vision as a core value. It was an intentional step to accelerate our work to create a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace. I know lots of companies say they’re doing this work, and I believe many are truly earnest about it. But it’s not easy to drive meaningful change. It takes focused effort, steadfast commitment, empathy and patience — along with self-reflection and a willingness to be uncomfortable at times as we learn and grow together. ... Read More

In 2019 the Warrior Village Project, a nonprofit based in Southern California, reached out to our Giving Fund team hoping to get a one-time donation of building materials. The organization planned to use the materials to support its burgeoning program to teach San Diego-area high school students about construction trades through building affordable housing for unhoused veterans. ... Read More

Last month, I joined an incredible panel on allyship that was organized by three of our employee resource groups (I highly recommend the replay, if you’re interested). It was a really personal and powerful discussion about what it means to be an ally — someone who speaks out, stands up and provides support for a marginalized person or group. As panelists, we all came from different backgrounds and experiences, yet there was an inspiring common thread about how having an ally, or being an ally, can make an enormous difference in people’s lives. ... Read More

In 2017, when Alberta’s Aseniwuche Winewak Nation needed better methods for tracking and documenting cultural heritage sites, our Alberta Timberlands team stepped in to help fund and launch a multi-year project that empowered AWN to better preserve its history, including in the forests we manage in the province. ... Read More