The holiday season always seems to inspire reflection. For me, that’s never been a truer statement than it is right now, as Wray Ward winds down its 40^th anniversary year.

This agency and the marketing communications world have transformed in ways we never imagined. Yet some things haven’t changed, like our quest to tell great stories or our pledge to serve others. Our founders, Charlie Wray and Bob Ward, established and nurtured those principles — principles that continue to guide each of our 100-plus employees today.

From the beginning, Charlie and Bob made a commitment to our community. And for the next 40 years, we dedicated our minds, hearts and thousands of hours to that community, which has given so much to us.

Giving back? It’s in our DNA. We believe in giving everything we’ve got to our work, our clients and the community where we live. Our talents and work can be seen and felt outside the walls of our agency through our work with non-profit organizations and community initiatives. And nothing pleases us more than seeing results for our clients, growth and joy for our staff, and lasting impact and success for the region we call home.

That’s why I’m thrilled to share the next chapter of our journey as an agency and as a member of the greater Charlotte community.

Beginning in 2018, we will devote our talent, time and treasure to 501(c)3 community initiatives through a new service-grant program called EmpoWWer, framed by these three pillars:

• Creativity, which is our core strength
• Shelter, which reflects our specialization in the home and building category
• Advancement, which mirrors our passion for delivering better-performing work.

Our EmpoWWer program fuels using our gifts for good and feeds our indomitable hunger for helping build a better world. But it also formalizes a commitment to social responsibility that Wray Ward has embraced since it opened its doors in 1977. This allows more deserving organizations an opportunity to apply for resources, whether those be time, talent or treasure. And while our leaders have always participated in some shape or form through board service, personal gifts or pro bono work, EmpoWWer gives all of our employees a chance to get involved in supporting important causes.

I’ve always believed there’s something special about the work we do for our community partners. Imagine a child who discovers the joy of reading through the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, or parents who nurture their child’s love of music by taking them to a performance at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. Our program will cultivate more of these life-changing experiences.

From a young age, my father taught me the importance of giving back to the community. Later, during his time as campaign chair for United Way, I worked for the organization as a loaned executive. This experience reinforced my belief in the value of corporate leaders who give back and participate in the lifeblood of their community.

That’s why, at Wray Ward, “we” always comes before “me." Not simply because we win or lose as a team, but because we want to live in a world made richer by the organizations we support.

This authentic desire to do good forms the foundation for EmpoWWer.

We will kick off the New Year with more details regarding this exciting program including how non-profit organizations can apply. In the meantime, here’s to a holiday season filled with personal reflection and powered by the spirit of giving.