As we reflect on the culmination of another remarkable year for the Mars Ambassador Program (MAP), I am filled with gratitude for every one of you who dedicated your time, energy, and expertise to make a positive impact in communities across the world. Your unwavering commitment to our values and your relentless spirit of service have once again exemplified the very best of what it means to be part of the Mars family.
In 2008, when four associates embarked on the inaugural journey of the MAP, li le did we know the profound ripple effect it would create. Nearly 15 years on, the program has evolved into a global force for good, with more than 1,000 Associates from over 60 countries collectively contributing more than 60,000 hours of volunteer work.
From restoring coral reefs in Indonesia to providing aid in the a ermath of the Maui wildfires, from renovating domestic abuse shelters to offering medical care to animals in need, your efforts have touched countless lives and have le an indelible mark on the communities you serve.
MAP is not just about giving back; it’s about personal and professional growth. Through real-world experiences, you have honed your leadership skills, expanded your horizons, and forged lifelong connections with fellow associates and community partners alike. Your willingness to step outside your comfort zones and embrace new challenges is a testament to your compassion, adaptability, and zest for life.
Thank you for your dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment to making a difference. You are the heart and soul of MAP, and I am looking forward to working with many of you again in the future, whether on MAP assignments or as MAP alumni and advocates!
With deep gratitude,
Anne e Jennings Director Global Community Engagement & Corporate Giving
Our Global Impac t
Accra, Ghana
Chikwawa, Malawi
(Majete Wildlife Reser ve)
Dehradu n, India
Blantyre, Malawi
Bredasdorp, South Africa
Jakar ta, Indonesia
Khon Kaen, Thailand
Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
Mau i, Hawaii, USA
Molokai, Hawaii, USA
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
(San Carlos Apache Reser vation)
Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Rockland, Maine, USA
Stru isbaai, South Africa
Our Par tners
What Our Par tners Are
Fir st Impres sions
I was so exc ted to meet the other ambassadors from all around the world. I also was ver y impressed with the youth and coordinators
and
It was ver y positive. I was deeply impressed both by the
“My first impression was just how much work there was to do n a short amount of time, but was so ready for it and was more than happy to put maximum effort nto t. Aside from the amount of work, just how important the work was and what was behind the hammer nails and hard work was an opportunity for domestic violence survivors to seek help and not have to choose between their own safety or their pets.
I was honored to have the opportunity to make even experience exceeded my expectations I did not realize potential and not a moment was spared. My heart was warmed with appreciation. I smiled and cried more than
I was a bit worried as it was the first time I traveled on my board, I heard, welcome home and immediately felt to be
at Save the Children
staff from Save The Children made us feel welcome
apprec ated.
ever yday life in a new countr y
– Marina Pei Save The Children, Indonesia
– Elena Kikuste Humane Society International / India, India
– Jonah Babitz Blue Cross, Belgium
– Benjamin Turner Greater Good, Maine
– Sara Martzahl Maui Humane Society Hawaii
– Mélodie Lecoy Rozalia Project, Maine
Group
Acce s s to Pe t Care acros s Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
par tnered with the Banfield Fou ndation to provide care for animals in the San Carlos and Hopi commu nities of Arizona, where the nu mber of severely ill and educational resou rces, essential su pplies, and other ser vices to help increase care
veterinar y medicine – the more AHS can treat animals and educate people, the safer it will be for these commu nities.
In rds, what was the impact of your
We helped hundreds of animals at San Carlos – we also continued
AHS and MARS to the pets and owners we met on the reser vation — of ser vices.
What would you say to future ambassadors about this or advice?
Be prepared to work ver y hard, but if your heart is in it it will be so worth it!
MAP experience?
Vic toria Law
Jennifer Cook
St acie Kite yle
Alexandra Smith
BLUE CROSS OF BELGIUM
Human-Animal Interac t ion Calendar
In your own words, what was the impact of your
of various ideas (immediate actions (under 6 months), medium term
internal and external communication plan recommendations and provided them with a didactic calendar of events for the year 2024.
We also part c pated in an MVP day and took care of animals/cleaned the shelters
a 2024 didac t ic c alendar relate d to animal-hu man interac t ion and an annual
awarene s s ab out it s mis sion to find a home for all p et s hous e d in their shelters .
In your own words, what was the impact of your that they could execute. They seemed to be ver y happy with our work and we were proud of what we could achieve and propose community education.
markets operate
By we ek’s end, commu nic at ion opp or tu nit ie s and p otent ial sp eakers were and opp or tu nit ie s b efore ideat ion.
brainstorming. In the second week, ambassadors refined projects, demonstrating
from them and provide education to them, as well. There was a
process Specifically I am ver y proud of our final presentation to the Blue Cross and our Mars team.
Jonah Babit z
Claudia Hatherill
Maria Isabel Silva
Pe t-Friendly D ome st ic Violence Shelter Renovat ion
, what was the impact of your
We renovated a domestic abuse shelter, to enable it to become pet abusive situations
in their pet’s life That was a priceless piece of my part c pation.
Rebu ild, GGC recru it s volu nteers from across the U.S to help shelters in need and take project s from concept to creation to improve both the lives of hu mans pet spaces at domestic violence and homeless shelters. Up to 65% of u nhoused
with Rescue Rebu ild to successfully renovate animal shelters in Nashville, TN, USA ; Las Marias, Puer to Rico; and Phuket , Thailand.
families Collaboration and cross functional team and conversations/ you out of comfort zone and see the different perspective In your own words, what was the impact of your
Anthony Byrnes
Emily Moon
B enjamin Turner
Olly Craw ford
Healthy Pet s, Healthi r Community
to spay/neuter ser vices for South African commu nities and their animals, promote responsible pet ownership and hu mane education, improve laws to protec t animals,
Laura Halton
Peaceful Coexistence of
In your own words, what was the impact of your and plans
brutal lives beset by health problems such as malnutrition, infectious diseases and inju ries caused by vehicle collisions, and most pu ppies die before they reach the
Elena Kikuste
Holly Howes
Clothilde Prieur
MARS SUSTAINABLE SOLU TIONS
C oral Re ef Re storat ion
Makassar, S outh Sulawesi, Indonesia
In your own words, what was the impact of your
how to improve the project and learned about each other s cultures. What wa pictures/videos
Medhat Mounir
Marion Thebault
Kit sie Torres
Liz Franks
Henr y Gibbs
Medhat Mounir
MAUI
SOCIE T Y
Acce s s to Pe t Care
Mau i and Molokai, Hawaii, USA
Since 1953, Mau i Hu mane Society (MHS) has ser ved as the only open admission animal shelters on the island of Mau i, Hawaii, with a mission to protect and
remote commu nity of Hana ever y other month. In par tnership with the Banfield Molokai, par ticularly spay/neuter and wellness ser vices. On the small island of Molokai, ambassadors led spay/neuter and vaccination ser vices to owned pet s, mobile veterinar y clinic donated by the Banfield Fou ndation.
Julie B eaudoin
Sara Mar t zahl
Kayla Peters
ROZALIA PROJEC T FOR A CLEAN OCEAN
Marine Debris Cleanup in the Gulf of Maine
Rockland, Maine, USA
Founded in 2010, Rozalia Project has remained steadfast in its commitment to ocean
aboard the American Promise symbolized more than just a cleanu p mission; it was
up like tiny stars when they are disturbed - I didn t even know this existed or that nature could be so beautiful!) in the ocean and I and see the sparkles around my body as swam. Simply incredible!”
MAP experience?
I just wish I had more time with all the wonderful people spent my the other Assoc ates’ countries and experience their cultures The other to cook meals and help clean up so no one ever had to do any work on their own and there were always multiple hands ready to ump in and help
Elisabeth Geijron
Jessica Brackenbur y Joshua Cooke
Gianluca Fallocco
Zena Chhat wal
Youth Advisory Network Communications
In your own words, what was the impact of your
I am convinced, that the CYAN members are now equipped with a experience you will remember for the rest of your life You will
What would you say to future ambassadors about or advice?
such inspired and motivated youth and know that they will take
impressed by their involvement in all the activities and their interest
I was ver y interested to earn more about the culture of Indonesia, and experience at Mars to improve their skills and abilities. It’s ver y
Verena Fallmann Kat arzyna Nowak
Liubov Per yt sa
Marina Pei
Kamilla Tleuzhanova
Jakar ta, Indonesia
SAVE THE CHILDREN INDONESIA
C o coa Farmers Jakar ta & Makassar, Indonesia
In your own words, what was the impact of your
We provided an executive summar y and presentation to StC senior
plans with youth farmers to explore oppor tu nities and compiled a repor t on the value chain.
we proposed. The feedback was ver y posit ve - they apprec ated already set aside additional resources to implement some of our
It is a truly wonderful experience that we were able to visit the actual cocoa liquor plant in Uju, understand MARS’ Cocoa Ecosystem
or about MAP overall?
MAP is a MUST DO at Mars. will remember this for the rest of ambassadors to take ever y opportunity to learn about the culture the issue
Savannah Lawrence
Emily Swales
Sasha B eyder
Joshua Tindal
S ave the Children Indone sia’s Re s ou rce Mobilizat ion (RM) team is a new u nit
on how to collab orate ef fe c t ively with various external audience s . In addit ion,
b oth S ave the Children Indone sia and donor priorit ie s , delivere d re commendat ions for improvement s on other materials , and provide d ideas on how to enhance donor commu nic at ions
importance of our role as Mars ambassadors. I warmly recommend help them.
In your own words, what was the impact of your
We have helped Save the Children Indonesia to build their they lead with this purpose. could only learn from them. What is more I was so happy and nspired to see how it clicked between wanted to do the best we can to help the StC Team.
In your own words what was the impact of your
Marijana Petrushevska Ivanoska
Sasha Brown Aleksandra Gesicka
Zuzana Losakova
Ve terinar y Clinic & Wildlife C ons er vat ion
Blant yre and Majete Wildlife Res er ve, Chikwawa, Malawi
In 2017, World Veterinar y Ser vices (W VS) established it s presence in Malawi in collaboration with local animal rescue, Blantyre Society for the Protection and Mission Rabies in 2015. Since then, W VS has increased the capacity of the local commu nities of Blantyre city and the adjacent district s. Meanwhile, amidst the wilderness of Majete Wildlife Reser ve, W VS has par tnered with African Parks to establish a veterinar y ser vice for the animals u nder the care of the reser ve, one of the most poached animals in Africa. In Blantyre, ambassadors su ppor ted the BSPCA income commu nities.
Laura Russey
Veronica Talber t
What they did: Dashboard – The Philippines
What they did: Environmental education.
I helped them to create a purchase ser vice app in which they can the community
What would you say to future ambassadors about or advice?
a unique opportunity to understand more about Mars’ role to the
What they did:
– Ghana
Of course, there is a difference between a remote and in-person
What they did:
skills for approximately 15 CARE employees
What would you say to future ambassadors about or advice?
topics as do, you will enjoy it .
students and other people
When finished all the tasks and hit “done ” I couldn’t help but share them with my Assoc ates, my friends and my family
What would you say to future ambassadors about or advice?
loved ever y minute of it .
What they did:
Mohamed Wahby Qian Yu
Viviana Castelluccia
Carol Van Den Hende
into Your Role at Mars
While I have more than 20 years of experience in Communications I mostly cooperated with Europe and US
in Asia is a completely different culture and context It as culture than the one I usually work in.
It was extremely useful to live our purpose first-hand. Also, it provided me with different tools in terms of perspective because I now feel closer to the pet care business purpose and had to u nderstand their financial model for the overall business per formance
feel that the MAP ser ved the objective and helped me and other functions in the business
s included effect ve communication, which was well
posts and talks in multiple forums. I was able to learn some Indonesian while there. We had to communicate effectively
ot to plan and learn. Even under the water we use a lot of
One of the key focus areas for me this year was around opportunity to work in a team, understand the different personalities and how people like to work, ensure we
One of my MLCs for this year was to work on the idea of
