Giving Tuesday is on December 3, offering Houstonians an opportunity to give back to the community. To help you get involved, we've rounded up a few organizations across the Houston area that are making a positive impact in the region. BakerRipley has been a cornerstone of community empowerment for over a century, bringing resources, education and connections to Houston's emerging neighborhoods. Dedicated to disrupting inequities, BakerRipley works to maximize the unique strengths of the communities it serves. Through innovative programs and partnerships, the organization helps neighbors enhance their earning potential, learning opportunities, sense of belonging and health and well-being. Communities In Schools of Houston (CIS) is dedicated to unlocking every student’s potential by connecting them with caring adults and vital community resources. With a network of partners, including volunteers, mental health providers and educators, CIS provides support to help students overcome barriers that stand in the way of students from reaching their full potential. Good Reason Houston is committed to transforming education across the Houston region to ensure every child has access to a world-class public school. With a vision of making Houston the nation’s leader in public education, the organization drives systemic change by advising districts on innovative strategies, conducting original research, advocating for student-centered policies and fostering collaborative solutions with community partners. The Houston Food Bank provides essential food and resources to individuals across the Greater Houston area who lack access to nutritious meals. In addition to food distribution, the Food Bank offers programs focused on long-term stability, including nutrition education, health management and assistance with securing state-funded support. Whether through donations or volunteering, the Houston Food Bank offers multiple ways to give back and support the community.   Mental Health America of Greater Houston empowers the community by prioritizing mental health education, advocacy, and access to care. With a vision of replacing stigma with compassion and fostering resilience and hope, the organization works to: educate and train communities, break down barriers to care, advocate for legislative change and connect individuals to essential mental health services. The Rose is dedicated to supporting breast health and awareness, providing more than 40,000 women in Houston each year with comprehensive breast cancer screenings, diagnostics, biopsies and treatment. By removing barriers such as cost and lack of insurance, The Rose ensures that every woman has access to the care she needs. United Way of Greater Houston empowers Houstonians to overcome barriers to achieve success by providing essential tools, resources and educational support to individuals and families. Through funding dozens of partner nonprofits, United Way helps strengthen the community and support those in need. Learn more about Giving Tuesday.

Amazon’s leadership in supplier diversity has positioned the corporation for success while driving inclusive economic growth. Kennedy Oates, Partnership Board Member and Vice President of Global Procurement at Amazon, shared insights and best practices at the Greater Houston Partnership’s One Houston Together Fall Chief Procurement Officers (CPO) Convening.  Oates discussed how Amazon has grown its supplier diversity efforts by ensuring the value proposition of advancing supplier diversity and inclusion throughout our supply chain is communicated at every level. According to Amazon’s 2023 Sustainability Report, the company’s global supplier diversity and inclusion (SD&I) program is estimated to have supported over 30,000 U.S. jobs and generated approximately $2.8 billion in wages, earned from Amazon’s certified U.S. tier 1 supplier diversity spend. In 2023, Amazon was inducted to the Billion Dollar Roundtable, a nonprofit organization comprised of U.S. corporations that each spend $1 billion or more annually on a tier 1 basis with diverse suppliers. These diverse-owned businesses include majority owners identifying as minorities, women, veterans, disabled, and LGBTQ.  Oates stated that achieving this milestone required a deliberate approach, built on a clear vision, a targeted strategy, and an empowered team dedicated to executing these goals. By embedding supplier diversity into Amazon’s core procurement practices, they’ve fostered a sustainable and inclusive growth model that supports the company’s goals and the success of diverse suppliers. Key Takeaways from CPO Convening Supplier Diversity as a Strategic Value Proposition Oates emphasized the importance of viewing supplier diversity as more than just an initiative—highlighting the long-term value diverse suppliers bring to a company and its surrounding communities. Through its global SD&I strategy, Amazon measures impact through jobs supported, wages earned, and economic output generated. “Given our reach and scale, Amazon has a greater responsibility.” – Kennedy Oates, VP of Global Procurement, Amazon Vision-Driven Goals with Clear Strategies For Amazon, supplier diversity goes beyond statements. Oates stressed the importance of crafting a well-defined vision, supported by actionable strategies to advance supplier diversity objectives. He also noted that internal teams should have collaborative discussions on supplier diversity across the entire business rather than in silos.   Partnering with Companies at Every Level “Every large company was once small.” – Kennedy Oates, VP of Global Procurement, Amazon Amazon is redefining procurement by challenging the perception that only large companies can serve large corporations. Its approach embraces partnerships with businesses of all sizes, embedding supplier diversity as a core element of its supply chain. This creates a positive ripple effect that brings opportunities to underrepresented companies. To learn more about the Partnership’s Supplier Diversity workstream, contact LaTanya Flix.