As companies head into the
Lior Rachmany founded Dumbo Moving and Storage in 2006, aiming to establish a company that cared for its employees and local New York City communities. Whether it's through their partnership with NYC Mammas Give Back, a nonprofit that supports at-risk families, or sponsoring a Knickerbocker all-stars basketball tournament in Bushwick in honor of Juneteenth, Dumbo Moving has been an active participant in their communities. This year alone, with 800 employees, the company raised $45,000 for local causes.
"Unfortunately in our society, there are people who have and a lot of those who don't have," says Rachmany. "The number one initiative should be to reach out to those who don't have."
Rachmany underlines that Dumbo Moving goes beyond handing money to organizations. For example, the company provided a space in their parking lot where autistic and ADHD students could paint a mural as a creative outlet. Dumbo also partnered with Amilli Onair, a French-American street artist, who painted a mural of a uterus on the wall of their building in protest when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
This show of support is echoed by Dumbo's own workforce, which has been open to donating funds to their fellow workers who are faced with a challenging life event. But even if a small business does not have enough funds or wall space, employers can still give back.
"Whether it's a restaurant or a tech company, you can provide help," says Rachmany. "Anything that is your bread and butter at work, you can provide as your product for charity."
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In the same vein, Dumbo donated boxes for children to PlayGround NYC, a nonprofit that runs a junkyard playground with pop-ups across the city. Notably, as part of their partnership, Dumbo picks up and transports donations all over the five boroughs for NYC Mammas. And when the tragic Bronx high-rise fire took place on Jan. 9 of 2022, killing 17 people, the company mobilized, collaborating with the Bronx president to deliver resources to survivors. During the onset of COVID, Dumbo helped deliver hospital equipment. "If you calculate all of what we did in the previous year, it goes above the $45,000 [we already raised]," says Rachmany.
He stresses the importance of collaborating with local organizations and staying engaged in one's community — it guarantees that employers are offering resources that are genuinely needed. And while Rachmany is proud of the money his company has raised, being active participants in the community can be just as or even more valuable.
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Rachmany notes that the more Dumbo has become involved in their community, their reputation has only grown stronger. Dumbo's community knows who they are, not just as a business, but as a caring member of their community, explains Rachmany.
"This is not just for you to see on our website or social media," he says. "People around us know what we did. The fact that we did something like this always opens doors and gives positive things to our company."
