Seeing Red - Charity Antics Go Global

Hundreds of Phenomenex employees around the world had a blast last month as they showed up to work dressed in the most ridiculous attire they could gather with the only rule being: that it had to be red and look funny - all for charity.

The catalyst for the global event came from the company’s United Kingdom subsidiary, whose team planned some office comic relief

in step with ;Red Nose Day’*. Businesses throughout the UK use this day to take themselves less seriously at work and raise funds to help disadvantaged children by wearing silly costumes, playing practical jokes, and collecting donations for face painting, baked goods and a host of other activities so Phenomenex Headquarters urged all of its global offices to join in the fun and in Torrance, employees gathered outside for an afternoon of sheer outrageousness.

Joining them was Donna Dawick of Cheer for Children, a Redondo Beach based non-profit that raises donations to help acutely ill children and their siblings at County-Harbor UCLA Medical Centre and for children with orthopaedic disabilities at local schools. During the event, Ms Dawick scored a soccer goal worth $1000 for her charity.

"We’ve been fortunate to work with the fabulous employees at Phenomenex for over four years now and I have never seen an organization so passionate and fun.

With their efforts we’ve been able to help many local children and families. This event has been amazing and will help many more."

By the end of the day the company raised $5,150 through a combination of sporting challenges, raffles, and refreshment sales. Plenty of foolishness was mixed in to the fundraising and at one point the founder and CEO, Fasha Mahjoor was ambushed by his staff armed with ‘super-soaker’ water guns and wound up drenched.

Somehow he managed to keep the oversized red clown nose he was wearing attached throughout the attack. Mr Mahjoor commented: "With less than 24 hours notice, hundreds of our energetic staff showed up to our global offices dressed in outlandish red costumes ready to support a charity event many had never heard of before. But I’m not surprised - this is just our culture."