Samsung Kicks Off Month-Long Employee Volunteerism Campaign Across America

Communities across the U.S. are dealing with a global pandemic, a challenging economy, and a watershed moment in the fight against inequality. With thousands of employees across the United States, Samsung Electronics America today commenced a month-long employee volunteerism campaign designed to show solidarity with local communities through service.

The Samsung Gives Month of Service kicked off with a virtual company event. Employees heard from leaders, colleagues and a number of Samsung’s charity partners as they embarked on a month of virtually giving back to their communities.

This year would have been the company’s tenth Samsung Gives Day of Service, a day in which our offices close nationwide to allow employees to serve the communities where they work and live. But given the current environment, Samsung has expanded the campaign to allow more employee giving as part of an entire month’s worth of virtual community service.

On October 2^nd, Samsung employees symbolically united to kick-off the Samsung Gives Month of Service to foster greater resilience in their local communities by virtually donating their time to a cause that matters most to them.

Employees joined a virtual service opportunity with Story Pirates, where they provided creative writing feedback to budding writers.

Charities and non-profit organizations include groups that have partnered with Samsung for a number of years, such as American Red Cross, Covenant House New Jersey, Hackensack Riverkeeper, Only Make Believe, and United Way Metropolitan Dallas. We are also unveiling new partners recommended by our Corporate Citizenship team and our LGBTQIA, Black, and Veterans employee resource groups (ERG), including:

• Junior Achievement of New Jersey will have Samsung employees mentor K-12 students on entrepreneurship, financial literacy skills, and work-readiness
• Nepris will connect educators and learners with employees to bring real-world professional career exposure to students
• Story Pirates will share original stories penned by children and employees will provide creative writing feedback the budding writers
• The Trevor Project will provide access to the latest data and insights on inclusive mental health, and Samsung employees will learn about LGBTQIA+ community allyship
• Covenant House New Jersey and other social justice organizations are working with employees to develop ‘Art For Social Equality’ to educate communities about the intersection of art, culture, and politics, and to inspire real change
• Operation Gratitude and other local military non-profits are building kits with Samsung employees for active duty military members to express our gratitude for their service and raise their spirits

“Each service experience dating back to the first Day of Service event has been a memorable one for our people. Whether an initiative grounded in youth education or disaster relief, our employee’s efforts are aimed not just at doing good but also at making a long-term impact,” said David Steel, Executive Vice President and Head of Corporate Affairs, Samsung Electronics North America. “When confronted with the realities of giving back to our communities amidst a pandemic, we chose to press forward with our Day of Service program – but in a bigger way. We’re providing our employees with the flexibility to pursue company-arranged opportunities or other service activities of their choice for our first-ever virtual Samsung Gives Month of Service.”

Employees from Samsung Electronics America shared their excitement and words of encouragement to fellow colleagues as they kicked off the Samsung Gives Month of Service during a recent internal company event.

Samsung’s success is rooted in enabling people. People and co-prosperity are fundamental to our corporate philosophy and core values. During our 41-year history in America, we have devoted our talent, resources, and technology to contribute to a better global society and meet the unique needs of the communities in which we operate. To directly address those needs, Samsung launched our Samsung Gives Day of Service initiative, which is part of our multifaceted citizenship efforts that includes longstanding corporate social responsibility and sustainability programs, such as the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition and the Climate Superstars environmental challenge. As of the ninth Day of Service in 2019, Samsung has donated a total of more than 144,000 hours of service to 65 organizations nationwide.

“Over the years, our non-profit partners have often mentioned how hard-working Samsung employees are. Our employees exemplify our workplace culture, aspiring toward excellence in every endeavor, defying barriers, and building a future that is made by more of us, together,” said Ann Woo, Senior Director of Corporate Citizenship, Samsung Electronics America. “For this milestone year – a year in which our communities are counting on us more than ever, we plan to step up and serve like we never have before.”

Employees from across the U.S. joined a virtual volunteer session with United Way of Metropolitan Dallas where they prepared for recording videos reading children’s books to classrooms and families across North Texas Childcare Centers.

Throughout this year’s Month of Service, we will provide updates from our employees on the organizations they are passionate about and how they are helping their local communities thrive at a time when our collective support is needed most. We will also share more information on our partner organizations and the significance of giving back. Stay tuned!