XL Capital employees yesterday took part in dozens of projects around the world in the company's third "Global Day of Giving". The day is dedicated to supporting the communities in which XL companies operate.

Employees have donated thousands of hours of community service to hundreds of charitable projects in various locations world-wide since the Global Day of Giving began in 2006 during the company's 20th anniversary.

XL chief executive Officer Michael McGavick said: "The Global Day of Giving is an important opportunity for those of us at XL to take time away from our business lives and give back to the communities in which we live and work. It is important to note that this day is but a momentary reflection of the many ways, both large and small, in which our colleagues serve their communities throughout the year."

Staff took part in 15 projects in Bermuda which were:

• Partnering with Teen Services, and other local companies, to provide a home cooked meal and baskets of staples and essentials to several families in need.

• Completing a landscaping project at Kaleidoscope Arts Foundation, including clearing the driveway of brush and weeds; erecting a dividing fence; levelling lawn area; sowing lawn seed; creating and turning garden beds; planting endemic plants; and cleaning up the children's playground area.

• Working with Meals on Wheels, preparing and delivering meals.

• Cleaning up Palm Island and Morgan's Island (two National Trust properties).

• Painting, tree planting, and organising offices at the Aquarium & Zoo.

• Clearing, painting and preparing a room for mentoring students at Sandy's Secondary School.

• Doing restorative work at Casemates Prison, a historical site.

• Cleaning/restoring stables and landscaping at the Bermuda Riding for Disabled.

• Clearing invasive plant species at Tivoli Nature Reserve, a National Trust property.

• Painting and gardening at Beacon House (the Bermuda Society for the Blind).

• Painting the house of a stroke survivor under the auspices of the Bermuda Stroke Association.

• Working at the Salvation Army to benefit the 'Dreaming in Colour' programme helping to create a small vegetable garden at the back of the building; establish a small computer centre with office equipment; painting the programme's meeting room; and replacing furniture and floors.

• Gardening at Agape House and selling tickets for their upcoming Rubber Duck Derby.

• Providing food and cleaning supplies to the Twilight Seniors Rest Home II.

• Volunteering for the Bermuda Reserve Police.

The global insurer's staff also volunteered their time for projects in Brazil, France, the US, the UK, China and Switzerland.