Last week, we featured a summary of results from our FY16 global volunteering challenge Take 5, where more than 1,500 employees participated to help us reach a global total of 28,000+ hours helping nearly 2,000 nonprofits achieve their goals.
From India to the US, today we bring highlights of how Symantec employees across our global network decided to Take 5 (or more!) to make a difference in their communities.
Pune Takes 5 to Strengthen Community Education & Funding
During March, in partnership with charity Seva-Sahayog, more than 120 employees from Symantec's Pune, India office volunteered to bring much needed supplies to the organization's Abhyasikas (Community Learning Centers) throughout the region. The organization currently runs centers in over 50 slums in Pune. 23 new centers are being developed that will each contain a library.
Through the volunteer effort, employees developed library-kits for the foundation which required loading, unloading, inspecting, covering and arranging approximately 3,000 books. Seva-Sahayog team was on-site to guide our volunteers for these activities.
Following this, Seva-Sahayog conducted a two-hour “Capacity-Building” workshop for 40 Symantec volunteers who wished to gain skills in developing grant proposals for nonprofits. Many charities approach Seva-Sahayog for assistance with donation requests either via email or proposals. Seva-Sahayog and its associate charities can now rely on these trained volunteers to help in drafting the donation proposals. Volunteers can complete funding applications at work, in person or through virtual volunteering.
Lastly, in May following the success of the first on-campus volunteering event, Symantec's CSR-India team organized another activity with Seva-Sahayog to inspect backpacks for underprivileged school children in the region and fill them with appropriate school books and stationery. Around 120 employees volunteered for the two-hour event assembling a total of 3,000 school bags.
“It was overwhelming to see so many employees willingly working to make a tangible difference to society,” said Vishaka Adkar, who was a part of the CSR India organizing committee.
Employees in Symantec"s Pune, India office volunteer with nonprofit Seva-Sahayog to provide crucial resources to local community learning centers and school children located in impoverished areas of the region.
Employees volunteering with Seva-Sahayog filled a total of 3,000 school bags with school supplies for underprivileged youth in the region.
EMEA Takes 5 to Stamp out Hunger
As part of Symantec's Executive Leadership Team meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, our EMEA Leadership Team had the privilege of spending a few hours at the Three Square Food Bank as part of their Food Rescue program.
There are 305,000 people across four Southern Nevada counties that go without fresh produce and many children in this area can spend a whole weekend without food. Three Square Food Bank is a crucial community resource distributing 38 million pounds of food and grocery product in 2015.
The team packed more than 750 bags of fresh apples and oranges, and half of the team supported packing 1,500 meals for children.
The EMEA Leadership Team takes 5 to volunteer at a local food bank and stamp out hunger in Nevada.
Norton Team Take 5 to Help the Homeless
Santa Clara County, the home to our corporate headquarters in Mountain View, California, has the ninth highest homeless population in the United States and the third highest long-term homeless population. In May, Symantec employees volunteered with local nonprofit HomeFirst to create hospitality kits with vital supplies for the homeless.
HomeFirst has been serving the homeless in this region for over 30 years, home to the county's largest homeless outreach team and operating the county's largest homeless service center. Specifically, the organization helps the homeless locate shelter or housing as quickly as possible and stay housed for the long-term as a first step to further social and economic empowerment.
As part of Take 5, during May Norton NEO created hospitality kits for HomeFirst, a network of homeless shelters in Silicon Valley helping homeless locate available housing and shelters.
Taking 5 to Lend a Helping Hand to Future Professionals
In our efforts to increase employee volunteering at Symantec, we look to provide a variety of avenues for employees to get involved. Our partnership with Career Village is a great example of how successful and impactful virtual volunteering can be – volunteering that can be done online and from any location, at any time.
Recently Symantec's Norton Sales and Marketing and Enterprise Security Sales Leadership teams worked with Career Village, answering more than 500 career related questions from students, many of whom do not have access to guidance counselors or working professionals.
Volunteering was kicked off at two key events for Symantec – the Norton Sales and Marketing Kickoff and the Enterprise Security Sales Leadership Meeting - where Symantec's John Sorenson, VP, Sales joined Career Village on stage to discuss the partnership and encourage participation. Laptops were provided at the event enabling employees to easily sign up then and there.
At two recent Symantec events, employees signed up to volunteer with Symantec partner Career Village, an online community where professionals provide career related advice to students.
What a Difference 5 Hours Can Make
This year our Take 5 initiative will continue with new volunteer opportunities, new employee rewards, and Symantec's first Global Service Week.
Stay tuned here for more updates on the many ways Symantec is taking 5 to give back throughout the year!