Designer Brands Inc. (DBI) will close its corporate office on Friday so 1,200 employees worldwide can volunteer with nonprofit and community organizations as part of the firm’s second annual Step Up and Serve day. DBI staff have the option of cleaning schoolyards, packing hygiene kits, mentoring high school students and supporting local nonprofits in Columbus, the greater New York area, Boston, and Toronto. Staff at international offices that include China, Vietnam, and Brazil will be able to participate in volunteer work on Oct. 9. Remote workers can participate virtually through SuitUp, which pairs Designer Brands employees with high school students to solve a real business case, the shoe retailer said. All corporate employees also have the option of volunteering independently with organizations that they already support in their communities. The volunteer program that began last year was aimed at putting two of the company’s value, “We Do What’s Right” and “We Belong,” into action, as well as give employees a chance to work alongside each other and build connections outside their day-to-day work. DBI employees across the U.S., Canada, India and China last year logged more than 1,000 volunteer hours. DBI’s chief executive officer said that the response last year on how
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