Bringing Hope to Children

An Interview with Brian Goldner, President and Chief Executive Offi cer, and Karen Davis, Vice President of Community Relations, , Inc.

EDITORS’ NOTE Brian building activities, volun- Is it important that Hasbro’s phil- Goldner has held his teer together. But it’s also anthropic involvement align with the current post since May the way we do our giv- business? 2008. He served as ing. It’s very much about Goldner: Being strategic about our philan- Chief Operating Offi cer bringing the best of our thropy allows us to make the biggest impact. of Hasbro, Inc., from assets to an organization How does it align with the business? For us, January 2006 to 2008, to help make a bigger it has always been about kids. We understand and served as President of impact. We have multi- them, and we can use all of our assets to help the U.S. Toys segment from year philanthropic part- them. We have always felt a strong commitment 2001 to 2006. From 2000 nerships that allow us to to give back dating back to when the Hassenfeld to 2001, Goldner served bring the best of who we brothers ran the company. So even in our most as Senior Vice President are to the table. diffi cult days fi nancially, we have contributed. and General Manager Brian Goldner Karen Davis We support programs We’ve never stopped. That’s just part of who of the U.S. Toys segment. that bring “the sparkle of we are. Before joining Hasbro, he was Chief Operating hope, the joy of play, and the power of service” Are future business leaders interested Offi cer of Bandai America Incorporated from to children who really need it. For example, there in joining companies that have philan- 1997 to 2000. Goldner serves on the Board of is an organization in Kissimmee, Florida, designed thropy ingrained in the culture? Directors of Hospital and is a grad- to accommodate the wishes of children who are Goldner: Absolutely. The most philan- uate of Dartmouth College. suffering from life-threatening illnesses. The chil- thropic generation is coming up through the Karen Davis has led the company’s philan- dren and their families are given a week’s vacation ranks right now, so they’re looking at how com- thropy since 1998 and currently serves as the im- at a Give Kids The World village, which wraps its panies give back. They’re used to volunteering, mediate past Chair and Founder of the Association arms around the family, providing meals, theme so they want to see the company offer that as of Corporate Contribution Professionals. She park passes, and a beautiful villa designed to ac- a benefi t. People tell us they’ve come to work serves as the past President of the Grantmakers commodate special needs. for us because of what we do. We have record Council of Rhode Island and is the former Board Davis: We sponsor their weekly Christmas numbers of people applying to work at Hasbro, Chair of City Year Rhode Island. Prior to joining party and built a themed Boundless partially because of our CSR efforts, but also Hasbro, Davis spent 14 years in the advancement Playground for them. This type of playground is because, overall, it’s a terrifi c company. fi eld. She holds an M.A. and a B.S. degree from designed specifi cally for children of all abilities Do you get emotionally involved in the the University of Rhode Island and a certifi cate so kids with disabilities and their friends or sib- causes Hasbro supports? from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth lings can play together. We also made a special Davis: Of course, it would be diffi cult not for Hasbro’s Global Leadership Program. In 2007, Give Kids The World CANDY LAND for all to. We see the kids in our hospital, and we know she was inducted into the University of Rhode the families to take home. We’re one of the larg- their struggles and the heartache of the families. Island College of Business Hall of Fame. est corporate funders of Hole in the Wall Camps With the work we do in Africa, we see how dif- across the world, which Paul Newman started fi cult life is for the children, but then we get to COMPANY BRIEF Hasbro, Inc. (www.hasbro.com) for children. So, Give Kids The World, Boundless see the hope and joy we’re able to bring. This is a worldwide leader in children’s and family lei- Playgrounds, and Hole in the Wall Camps are our work is a great privilege and a huge motivator; sure-time entertainment products and services, biggest partners under “play.” it’s why a lot of us come to work and give it our and designs, manufactures, and markets Under “hope,” we support a number of all. Beyond making great products for kids, our and toys. Headquartered in Pawtucket, Rhode organizations including Operation Smile. Each employees know they’re part of something big- Island, the company markets its , year we support at least one mission where ap- ger here. It’s a larger good we’re all striving for. , , , proximately 450 kids have facial surgery and Why does the message about the good TIGER, AND brands end up being able to eat and smile because of that is done by business leaders and corpo- in the United States and internationally. that – that’s a pretty great thing. We also have rations so often get lost? the Hasbro Children’s Hospital, which is one of Goldner: Good question. It seems that the How critical is corporate responsibility and our proudest accomplishments – it is 15 years media believes good news doesn’t sell. We know community engagement to the culture of old. We have a program with World Vision from the research that corporate philanthropy Hasbro? where we support orphans in Africa, helping does matter to the consumer and that they make Goldner: It is defi nitely a part of this com- 40 schools a year in Zambia. buying decisions based on the company’s repu- pany’s DNA, and has been since its inception. Goldner: For each one of these, we look tation. We have never done our charitable giving It’s something our employees take to heart, and at the partnership and ask what we can do to to sell product; we have always done it because it is top down and bottom up. We offer the make a bigger impact than just giving a grant. it is the right thing to do. Of course, we would majority of employees four hours of paid time For some, it’s appropriate to give product; for be delighted to have folks buy Hasbro brands be- off per month to volunteer with children, and others, it’s appropriate to volunteer time. In cause they want to be associated with the good we have groups who, instead of doing team- 2009, we helped about four million kids. work we do around the world.• VOLUME 33, NUMBER 2 POSTED WITH PERMISSION. COPYRIGHT © 2010 LEADERS MAGAZINE, INC. LEADERS 43