Giving Back
At Aspida, service is at the forefront of what we do. We founded The Rhinos, an employee resource group committed to inspiring, restoring hope, and providing resources to underserved communities. The Rhinos focus on community outreach, serving others, and generally making the world a better place.
It’s important for us to give back to the community in which we work and live. That’s why the Rhinos, our community outreach group, support local elementary schools in and around Durham, NC, through teacher supply drives, angel tree holiday gift donations, sponsored weekend meals, and by participating in school events like career day. We also partner with Durham Habitat for Humanity, the Durham Rescue Mission, The Blood Connection, and the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.
Our Diversity and Inclusion Steering Council (DISC) tackles DEI issues both within and outside our walls. We have guest speakers, group discussions, volunteer opportunities, and weekly pulse checks to keep issues that affect all of us on the forefront.
Our employees value community outreach in their personal lives, as well. Because of this, we offer Volunteer Time Off for employees to go out and do volunteer work that they’re passionate about.
With employees that hail from all over the world, it’s important to remember that our community is truly a global one. We held an Earth Day celebration for local kids to teach them more about how their decisions can have a global impact, and in 2022 we packed 10,000 meals for Rise Against Hunger.
Within our own walls, we know the impact that business processes make on our environment is our responsibility. We constantly work to improve our building and make green choices — things like refillable water bottles, a heavy push on recycling, and even walls built from locally sourced barnwood. We also encourage our partners and customers to make smart choices as we look to be more responsible with our products.
When it comes to protecting our clients’ retirement funds - and their dreams - responsible ESG-based investing makes a big difference. That’s why we feel great about having Ares Insurance Solutions (AIS) as our dedicated asset manager. Ares Management aims to be a catalyst for shared prosperity, delivering sustainable value that leaves a positive impact for our clients, partners, stakeholders, and global community. In their own words…
“We believe that by being a leader for integration of environmental, social and corporate governance factors in our business, we can in turn drive greater adoption within our investment and portfolio management processes and help create better investment outcomes. Whether it’s protecting and growing the capital of our clients, creating long-term value for our shareholders or aligning our interests with business partners, we are committed to supporting sustainable practices that generate positive environmental and social impact – not just now, but for years to come.”
You can read more about Ares Management commitment to ESG here.
Speedy and his relatives need just as much opportunity as the rest of us to live a life they dream about. That’s why we support rhino conservation efforts both here in the U.S. and in Africa, one of their native countries. Take a look at where we’re focusing our efforts, and feel free to join us in these worthy causes!
Speedy “adopted” Jaali, a black rhino, after he was born at the Potter Park Zoo in Lansing, MI. Since then, he’s made a trek westward to The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert, CA. We’ve become pretty attached to the not-so-little guy and will continue to provide support in his new environment, with his new girlfriend Nia.
Click the button below if you’d like to learn more about Jaali.
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Through the NC Zoo Society, much work is being done to fight against illegal poaching of African grey rhinos, and we wanted to be a part of that. We have donated funds in order to help protect these important animals and help their numbers grow.
Click the button below to learn more about conservations efforts by the NC Zoo Society or to help out.
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The Rhino Orphanage is one of the first of its kind, providing safety and rehabilitation for baby rhinos without parents. While the location is kept secret to deter poachers, the effects of their mission can be felt all over the world as more and more rhinos are rehabbed and reintroduced to crashes in the wild.
Click the button below to find out more about The Rhino Orphanage and discover ways you can help.
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