Gates, a leading global provider of application-specific fluid power and power transmission solutions, showed the local LGBTQ+ community its support during Pride Month in a big way. Gates engaged employees, and the local community, in conversation and activism through its participation and sponsorship of Denver Pride activities. This participation is part of the company’s global diversity and inclusion initiative focused on fostering an inclusive workplace that recognizes and celebrates our differences.
One way in which Gates helped to create awareness and support this cause was the company’s all-out participation, and significant sponsorship, of the Denver Pride 5K. The “WE ARE GATES” team raised more than $5,400 for race organizer, The Center on Colfax. Gates provided a Gates Carbon Drive belted-bicycle to the race winner, a prize worth more than $1,100, bringing the total Gates commitment to $6,500.
Gates also celebrated Pride Month with a number of internal events, including a presentation from The Center on Colfax, and worked in conjunction with Hines to wrap the windows of its world headquarters in a rainbow of colors to further show support for the cause.
“At Gates, we have a tradition of diversity and inclusion that runs through our veins,” said Jamey Seely, executive vice president and general counsel, Gates. “Our Pride celebrations helped spur employee support and participation in the race, and I am proud that our team was able to make such a major contribution to The Center on Colfax. Through Gates’ diversity and inclusion initiative, I look forward to addressing these types of important issues both internally and externally in the future.”
“We are very grateful to Gates for their enthusiastic and extraordinary support of the Pride 5K. Thanks to our partnership with Gates, The Center on Colfax will be able to continue serving the LGBTQ+ community of Colorado, including serving youth, older adults and the transgender community,” said Rex Fuller, vice president of communications and corporate giving at The Center.
The vision of Gates’ diversity and inclusion initiative is to drive an inclusive workforce environment where success is defined by its commitment to valuing all elements of diversity throughout a global organization; with employees, business partners, and communities.