Microsoft’s CELA (Corporate, External and Legal Affairs) division capped their annual summit with a charity bike build team event at The Lodge at St. Edwards in Kenmore, Washington. Fifty-two legal, compliance, and corporate affairs professionals competed through team challenges and assembled 10 bicycles. All 10 bikes went to KidVantage NW, which provides essential supplies to children facing economic hardship, homelessness, or family disruption across the greater Seattle area.
Microsoft is headquartered in Redmond, Washington and is one of the world’s largest technology companies. CELA is the division responsible for legal, compliance, and government affairs functions. The annual summit brings the CELA team together from offices worldwide.
Fifty-Two Microsoft CELA Professionals Compete and Build 10 Bikes for Seattle-Area Kids at Charity Bike Build in Kenmore
The summit is a serious event. Legal, compliance, and corporate affairs professionals arrive from Microsoft offices around the world to cover complex material. Finishing it with a charity bike build gives the group a different kind of session to end on, competitive, hands-on, and pointed toward something beyond the workday.
In the Build-A-Bike®, teams compete through a series of challenges to earn the parts they need to assemble a finished bicycle. When 50 people from different time zones all work toward the same goal, the professional distance tends to dissolve. Roles and seniority matter less than who spots the solution first.
The group assembled 10 bikes at The Lodge at St. Edwards, a retreat venue on Lake Washington in Kenmore. KidVantage NW received all 10. The organization, formerly known as Eastside Baby Corner, reaches more than 15,000 kids annually. They collect and distribute essential care, health, and safety items to children in need across five Puget Sound counties.
Closing a global legal summit with 10 bikes going to local children is a strong way to finish. Thank you to Microsoft and Daniela Constable for giving the CELA Summit this kind of ending.
Planning a corporate summit or multi-day meeting in the Seattle area? A charity bike build gives your group a memorable way to close the day while making a real difference for kids in the community.