Pinterest Workplace partners with Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco

by Jessica Mierau, Administrative Business Partner supporting Workplace, IT and Internal Audit

Workplace Team x Habitat for Humanity “Pinterest Playhouses”

When it comes to life at Pinterest, the Pinterest team is passionate about giving back to our local communities.  

There are many ways that we give back as a company, in smaller teams and as individuals. For example, at the Pinterest Workplace Team on-site meeting this month, we gave back by partnering with Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco to build playhouses for the community.

Not only was this an inspiring initiative, it was an engaging way to utilize the unique skills we have on the Pinterest Workplace Team which includes Workplace Services (Facilities), PinPatrol (Security), Design & Construction, Planning & Insights (Real Estate), Events and Travel.

“Building playhouses with my team was one of the most gratifying experiences of my career. The opportunity to give back to our community is such a privilege. Thanks to Jessica Mierau and Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco for organizing.”

- Dave Gunter, VP of Real Estate and Workplace Services 

What is the Habitat for Humanity playhouse initiative?

Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco’s Playhouse Program is a fun and meaningful way to volunteer with friends and colleagues, while raising funds for Habitat Greater San Francisco (HGSF) and benefiting community partners and local families. HGSF works side by side with teams of volunteers to construct and paint childrens playhouses that are donated to Habitat families, local childcare centers and daycares that support underserved families. 

How the Event Worked

We split into five teams and assigned each team a color (with corresponding team shirts) and a playhouse theme which included zoos, gardens and farms. These themes were determined by the playhouse recipients. Some teams planned ahead and others had more of a “day-of” approach, but no matter what route our teams took, the outcomes were spectacular. We even had a team member join us only weeks after starting at the company!

“It was only my third week at Pinterest and my team had a three-day team on-site. On our last day, we went to Habitat for Humanity and built playhouses for local schools. It was an incredible way to be introduced to both the team and the company. With everyone working together on the playhouses, I was able to build connections that might have taken months to create! The Habitat team was amazing, the activity was fun, and as always, it's a great feeling to give back. Would love to do it again!"

- AJ Merino, Workplace Operations Manager

Event Highlights

Our teams went above and beyond to make sure their playhouses would be something the kids would be excited about and proud to play in every day. One team built a Jurassic Park themed playhouse and blew us all away with their creativity! And of course, the winning teams won a fun prize for their hard work.

Key Takeaways

When it comes to giving back, there is no wrong or right way to go about it. Be creative, have fun and focus on the people who your work will impact. Go into it with the mindset of “Create Belonging”, one of Pinterest’s core company values, and you will be sure to make a difference. We hope that our playhouses will bring joy to the children at the local Bay Area daycares, homes and schools where they will reside for years to come! As a team, we enjoyed giving back collectively and connecting on a deeper level while doing something that was impactful for our community.