Hybrid Engagement, Real Impact

One Mission, Multiple Cities: Bringing Employees Together Through Hybrid Volunteer Experiences

We believe meaningful employee engagement should be accessible, impactful, and flexible — whether teams are gathered in the same room, connecting virtually across offices, or participating in a hybrid experience.

That’s exactly what made our recent partnership with AIG during Global Volunteer Month so special.

On one shared day of service, AIG employees across Jersey City, NJ; Charlotte, NC; Reston, VA; Houston, TX; and Dallas, TX came together to assemble brand-new ukuleles for students in under-resourced music programs in their local communities. By combining both in-person and virtual volunteer experiences, employees were able to participate no matter where they were located — proving that hands-on impact can happen anywhere.

At the heart of Can’d Aid’s employee engagement programming is accessibility. Our bicycle, skateboard, and ukulele build projects are intentionally designed as entry-level volunteer experiences, meaning anyone can jump in and contribute — no prior experience required. Whether participants are building their first ukulele or assembling bikes alongside coworkers, the focus is on collaboration, connection, and creating tangible impact for kids.

Throughout the day, AIG employees embraced the experience wholeheartedly, building teamwork and community while knowing the instruments they assembled would directly support local students.

“This was one of our most interactive activities, and people truly enjoyed taking on the build together… it was especially meaningful knowing the ukuleles will stay within the local community.”
— Kristin Khor, Director, AIG

Together, AIG employees helped bring the joy of music to students at:

  • BelovED Community & Empowerment Academy Charter Schools (Jersey City)
  • Dr. Lena Edwards Academic Charter School (Jersey City)
  • Croft Community School (Charlotte)
  • Oakdale Elementary School (Charlotte)
  • Music for Life (Reston)
  • Texas Music Project (Houston)
  • Texas Music Project (Dallas)

One especially memorable contribution came from AIG employee and artist Matea Sinkovec, who hand-painted a one-of-a-kind ukulele (below) that’s sure to inspire creativity and self-expression in the classroom for years to come.

The Power of Flexible Volunteer Experiences

As companies continue to navigate evolving workplace models, flexible volunteer programming matters more than ever. Can’d Aid’s ability to facilitate in-person, virtual, and hybrid experiences allows organizations to engage employees across multiple offices while still creating a unified moment of impact.

Whether teams are assembling ukuleles remotely, building bikes together onsite, or participating in a hybrid activation across cities, these projects create opportunities for connection that extend far beyond the workday.

We’re grateful to the entire AIG team for showing up in such a big way — and for helping put the power of music into the hands of students who deserve access to creativity, confidence, and joy.