Senior skills-based sponsorship: an inspirational contribution

Launched a year ago by Mécénat Servier, the senior skills-based sponsorship program gives employees the opportunity to conclude the last two years of their professional lives through a commitment to a charitable cause. Learn more from Véronique Cope, a Servier employee who helped kick-start the program.

The 4^th of November 2024 was a very special day for Véronique. After 32 years with the Group, it was her first day with the Fédération Française des Banques Alimentaires. Career change? Not at all! It was an integral part of Mécénat Servier Charity Fund’s senior skills-based sponsorship program offered to the Group’s French employees approaching retirement⁽¹⁾. She shares her impressions of embarking on this new chapter in her life.

Why did you choose the Fédération Française des Banques Alimentaires?

This nonprofit organization is the leading food collection and aid network in France. Every year, it helps 2.4 million people facing food insecurity. This cause is very important to me, and I deliberately focused my search in this area. It just so happened that the needs of the Fédération Français des Banques Alimentaires coincided with the skills I’d acquired in my professional life. So, it was a win-win situation!

What are your main responsibilities?

I’m in charge of corporate partnerships, which encompasses two main duties. The first is to cultivate relationships with major stakeholders in the agri-food industry with a view to increasing the volume and quality of product donations. And the second is to coordinate and provide support to regional Food Bank prospectors in their initiatives with local players. There’s a lot to do and it makes me feel useful.

What advice would you give to Servier employees who would like to follow in your footsteps?

Be motivated and persistent! In addition to the time-consuming administrative formalities, it’s important to look for a cause that’s close to your heart, and to find an organization whose needs match your skills. And for that you need to know where to start, for example, by revising your CV, sending cover letters, etc. It’s a fairly rare thing to do when you’re over 60! You also have to be prepared for a very different environment compared to that of the corporate world, because the not-for-profit sector operates at a completely different pace. Nevertheless, it brings so much enrichment to your daily life!

Take a look at Véronique’s video of her first day at the Fédération Française des Banques Alimentaires:

(1) Currently available only in France, but soon also in other countries!

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