Westfield puts its malls to work for their communities

A closed mall is not an inoperative mall—not if it’s a Westfield mall, at least.

Unibail Rodamco Westfield has summoned all of its shopping centers in the United States to go on COVID-19 alert and help drive donations to nonprofits assisting the homeless, the economically disadvantaged, seniors, and children. 

The #WestfieldCares program has such organizations as the Coalition for the Homeless, LA Family Housing, Metropolitan Chicago, the New York City Fund for Public Schools, the Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Boys & Girls Club, and YWAM San Francisco.

“This is a collaborative team effort amongst public affairs, shopping center management, and marketing,” said Colin Shaughnessy, Westfield’s executive VP of leasing. ”The initiative is meant to engage everyone in our organization to celebrate moments of giving back.”

The big mall operator says it has created more than 30 thank you initiatives aimed at first responders and local hospitals.  It has also supported more than 75 charities that work with vulnerable populations affected by COVID-19 pandemic and activated over a dozen testing and blood drives.

“The goal is to ignite a movement of togetherness among our communities and to focus on the economic hardship brought on by the closing of businesses and schools,” Shaughnessy said. “We are proud to be able to our local communities right now and help those who need it most.”