It’s a Friday afternoon. Tony Koenig has come from his office at 60 State Street in Boston to meet with the Finance Committee at On The Rise in Cambridge.

Located at 341 Broadway, On The Rise (OTR) provides emergency basics like safe haven, food, and clothing to women in need in Cambridge-Somerville and Greater Boston. It also offers extended aid including legal and medical counselling, advocacy, and help with job-hunting.

Koenig is wearing blue jeans.

That’s not just a fashion statement. At Koenig’s office—Pioneer Investment Management USA, Inc.(PIM USA)—there’s a $5 charge for wearing jeans on special Friday Denim Days. The money goes to charity.

“I think it’s kind of fun,” he says. “And of course, you can give more.”

Anthony J. Koenig, Jr. is Senior Vice President and Senior Administrative Officer of the US Investment Division at Pioneer—“the third-oldest mutual fund in the US,” he notes. The photo (left) shows him at work on an office clothing drive.

The token tax on jeans is one small piece of the philanthropic action at Pioneer. The firm and its employees assist numerous Boston area charities including the Home for Little Wanderers and Rosie’s Place. They collect blankets, clothing, toys and treats for kids at Easter, Christmas and Halloween.

In the larger arena, Koenig is also part of the firm’s collaboration with the Roberto Bazzoni Onlus, which supports health and rehab projects in the Balkans and in Zimbabwe. (“Onlus” is an Italian acronym for a non-profit: organizzazione non lucrativa di utilità sociale.)

Coming out to Cambridge to work with OTR is a big commitment for Koenig, a resident of the North Shore.

“It’s important to me, because On The Rise helps some of the most marginalized and least-served people in the area, and it supports their own initiative and strength.”

Koenig joined Pioneer in 2001. A colleague, Susan Bullock, was the firm’s Director of Community Relations. She was also an enthusiastic volunteer at OTR and a member of its Board of Directors.

“Susan was my original connection to On The Rise,” Koenig recalls. Tragically, she died last year at age 49. There's a stone with her name on it in OTR’s memorial garden.

“Joining the Board is a way of picking up that torch for her.”

Koenig is the third Pioneer executive to serve on OTR’s Board of Directors. Theresa Hamacher, formerly Chief Investment Officer at Pioneer, has also been an OTR director and is now on its Board of Advisors. Former Pioneer President Osbert Hood served on the Finance Committee. Pioneer volunteers have helped OTR with yard clean-ups and computer networking.

Koenig holds a 1986 Bachelor’s Degree in Accountancy and a 2005 Master’s in Corporate Finance from Bentley University in Waltham. He enjoys spending time with his four school-age children, and is very involved with their activities; at the same time he recalls his own father’s 40 years of charitable volunteer work and aspires to follow that example.

On the Board and the Finance Committee he helps OTR set priorities for the next 3-5 years and get to work on them. Since the budget is crucial, his financial training is a perfect fit.

“This is the first community-based charity I’ve been involved with in this way,” he says. “At Pioneer there has always been an emphasis on helping women and children in the Boston area; I want to keep On The Rise connected to that.”