In honor of Black History Month, we’re celebrating Black Lives and wanted to provide an update on how we’re delivering on our commitment to stand with our Black associates and communities, take meaningful action, and be held accountable.
Enhanced development and recruiting to improve black representation at PetSmart
Hired a new Senior Director of Talent Acquisition who is partnering with her team to drive more diverse applicant hiring pools and reduce disparities
Implemented new partnerships with online diversity recruiting partners like Direct Employers and Handshake for visibility with 100+ diverse job boards
Increased targeted recruitment and branding to underrepresented students through partnerships with Tennessee State University (HBCU) and Arizona State University’s Black Student Coalition, alongside community partnerships with Arizona Black Bar Association and the Greater Phoenix Equality Chamber of Commerce
Created Leadership & Interviewing, a Hiring Manager Interview Training that will focus on increasing awareness about behavior-based interviewing to reduce unconscious biases in the interview process. Human Resource Business Partners and our Talent Acquisition Recruiters have completed the training with aim to facilitate 100+ hours of training within a year.
$1million scholarship to support all associates of color to advance their educational aspirations
We remain committed to our vision of establishing a scholarship and tuition aid for associates of color and their families, and we’re excited to share that the PetSmart Scholarship Foundation will officially launch at the end of February, with the first set of grants being issued by June for the Fall semester. We plan to issue up to $250,000 a year in scholarships over the next 4 – 5 years.
Keep an eye out for more information on how associates and dependents can apply for one of the several scholarships ($2,500 for an associate degree or $10,000 for a bachelor’s degree) that will be awarded.
Grant from PetSmart Charities to support pets and pet parents in under-represented communities
Funded three incremental Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) focused grants to Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity ($250K), Human Animal Support Services ($100K) and Winnipeg Humane ($50K) that focus on supporting research and training to improve diversity within Animal Welfare and to better serve communities of color.
This month, Elliot Francis, a senior executive in DEI, will be joining the U.S. board of directors to lend his expertise while providing governance and oversight of PetSmart Charities in its commitment. You can meet Elliot here.
Formed the Racial Equity Advisory Committee, a cross-functional team within PetSmart Charities, focused on identifying areas where racial bias exists; and are now among 132 organizations participating in the Diversity Among Philanthropy Professionals (DAPP) Survey, which aims to help the philanthropic community better understand its workforce and leadership.
We know conscious actions lead to real progress and remain committed to building a culture of Belonging at PetSmart. We encourage you to visit the Belonging Fetch page for additional resources and encourage all associates to continue advocating for an environment where every associate feels like they truly belong.
Did we overlook something important to you and your team? Please help us better support you by emailing belonging@petsmart.com.