Retail Orphan Initiative raises $210,000 to help orphans, vulnerable children

More than 350 people from the retail industry recently joined together for a virtual fundraiser event by the Retail Orphan Initiative.

Retail Orphan Initiative (RetailROI) is a grassroots charitable organization made up of people in the retail industry who use their skillsets, networks, and funding to help the more than 400 million orphaned and vulnerable children. Since inception, RetailROI has helped fund over 200 projects in 27 countries, mobilizing more than $4 million to help over 229,000 children. 

The fundraiser, called SuperFriday, raised more than $210,000 that will help projects for orphan and vulnerable children in the US and around the world.

This year’s event started with the story of Run-DMC’s Darryl McDaniels who chronicled his story of being a kid from the foster system who ended up in the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. He spoke about his career and how his second act of helping vulnerable children might be more important than his first career.

As part of the event, several leading retail executives shared challenges of managing a remote IT workforce in the age of COVID. They also shared how they have been able to use their skillsets and networks to help charities take their programs further.

The event also networking with 18 different charities in the areas of orphan care and vulnerable children around the world including a new electronics recycling program that provides job opportunities and apprentice opportunities for young adults in the foster system that are aging out.

The event was funded by keynote sponsors Salesforce, ESRI and Infor; gold level sponsors Intel, Aptos and Ring Central; silver sponsor HP; and bronze sponsors Itasca Retail, IHL Group, Legion Technologies and The Parker Avery Group. 

The event is available for OnDemand Viewing at retailroi.org/superfriday.