Our employees team up to help maintain a beloved natural resource
On a recent bright and sunny morning, I joined a mighty team of volunteers from our Boston corporate headquarters for the annual Charles River Cleanup, which has been rallying volunteers to clear trash and invasive plants from the river since 1999.
Team UG2’s assignment was a stretch of the Charles that is one of the busiest recreational river segments in the world, drawing more than a million annual visitors to enjoy its many boathouses, running trails, playground, sports fields, and soundstages.
The UG2 volunteers filled bag after bag with debris over the course of the morning, helping protect our ecosystem and preserve a place that brings joy to so many of us. As we worked, we were buoyed by passersby giving us smiles and thumbs up while we carried out the cleanup. It was gratifying to think that we may have been inspiring others in setting an example of how small individual actions can make a real difference.
“I really enjoyed being part of the Earth Day cleanup along the Esplanade—it was a great reminder of how small, collective efforts can improve shared spaces,” said Oscar Giron. “It felt meaningful to contribute to preserving such a well-loved area for the community.”
Laurent Howell added, “It was nice to be outside with the team to get some fresh air, enjoy the sunlight, and help keep our planet clean. I loved seeing so many birds and turtles, and it reminded me how important it is to take care of the environment for them as well.”
“One thing that stood out was how many microplastics we found near the water,” said Ally Reddish. “Being able to clean those up before they made it into the water felt really impactful. I’ve taken walks in that area before, so it was especially meaningful to help keep it clean for the public and for places I personally enjoy.”
Also participating from our corporate office were Tracey Antonelli, Orest Ormenaj, Jayshon Means, Juan Nova, Michelle Vargas, Karen Duarte, Jennifer Yvonne Madrid, Esmirna Comas, Christopher Mello, Teresa Vielma, and Gina Wang.
The effort is part of the national American Rivers’ National River Cleanup, which has removed more than 32.5 million pounds of trash from waterways across the country since its inception.
UG2’s participation is just one of many efforts and events that reflect our commitment to the communities where we live and work—from supporting children with medical needs to providing mentoring to young people to helping the fight against cancer. I am deeply proud to be part of this team of employees, who continuously go above and beyond to find new ways to serve.