Tis’ the season for giving…According to Charity Navigator, 1.4 billion people worldwide donate to NGOs and by 2030, the number is expected to grow to 2.5 billion[1]. The organization also cites research showing that in 2014, 31% of online giving took place in December, with 12% taking place on the last three days of the year[2]. Additionally, #GivingTuesday, “a global day of giving” taking place on November 28th has seen a huge increase in donations from $10 million in 2012 to over $168 million in 2016 (and a total in 2016 of 1.56 million gifts across 98 countries).
All of this shows that while the holidays are often focused on buying presents for family and friends, people are increasingly looking to give back to their communities and those in need.
This has definitely been the case at Symantec where on #GivingTuesday Symantec employees contributed more than $195,000 in donations over the course of a single day. Additionally, from California to Dublin to South Africa to Dubai, our employees have been busy taking part in projects large and small, on their own and in teams, to ensure that people everywhere have a happy holiday season:
Europe, Middle East and Africa
- Dublin Christmas Challenge for the St. Vincent de Paul
In Dublin, Ireland 52 people volunteered over 300 hours up to December 23rd as part of the office’s Christmas Challenge in support of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. To date, employees have created over 300 hospital bags, exceeding the office’s target. Over the 10-day challenge, more than 50 employees volunteered over 300 hours.
In Dublin, Ireland 52 Symantec employees volunteered over 300 hours as part of the office’s Christmas Challenge in support of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
- Playing Santa for the UK’s Rainbow Trust and Christmas Carols at Symantec
More than 50 employees in the Reading office supported the UK Rainbow Trust Giving Tree Appeal, playing Santa for children in need and filling bags according to the wish lists of children. Employees donated a total of 100 Christmas toys, books and games.
Students from the Reading Girls High School Choir performed variety of Christmas carols to 500 employees in the Reading office as part of the office’s annual Christmas lunch. A fun activity for all as the school is one of the selected schools that Symantec employees volunteer with throughout the year.
Students from the Reading Girls High School Choir performed variety of Christmas carols to 500 employees in the Reading office as part of the office’s annual Christmas lunch.
- Holiday Gift Bags for the Dubai Women and Children’s Foundation
The Dubai office in partnership with the Dubai Women and Children’s Foundation distributed nearly 40 holiday gift bags to the women and children at the shelter of Dubai Foundation. The bags for women contained toiletries and holiday sweets including towels, shampoo, deodorant, body lotion, scarves, and chocolates. The bags for the kids were organized according to age including child/baby toiletries, toys, clothes, chocolates, hair clips, stationery, and activity books.
Symantec’s Dubai office distributes nearly 40 holiday gift bags to the women and children at the shelter of the Dubai Women and Children’s Foundation.
Americas
- Washington DC Holds its First Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive
In November, Symantec held its First Annual Thanksgiving Bag Food Drive to benefit Loudoun Hunger Relief resulting in over 300 pounds of donated food that contributed to feeding over 1,000 families, and close to 5,000 Loudoun County residents on Thanksgiving.
- Virtual Volunteering with CareerVillage End of Year Thanks
Symantec employees across the company took part in the CareerVillage End of Year Thanks, where over 300 volunteers provided over 600 pieces of career advice as part of the organizations mission to crowdsource career and school guidance for youth. We estimate that Symantec advice was read over 300,000 times, benefitting over 100,000 students.
- San Francisco’s Giving Tree
For the fourth year in a row Symantec San Francisco’s Giving Tree drive met its quota of 50 wish card gift requests filled, with a third of the sites full time employees participating.
A third of full-time employees at Symantec’s San Francisco office took part in the holiday Giving Tree campaign.
- Utah’s Angel Tree, Herndon Virginia Food Drive and Culver City Supports Toys for Tots
Symantec’s Draper & Lindon offices in Utah participated in The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program providing over 150 Christmas presents for children and elderly in need. Additionally, our Herndon, Virginia site took part in a food drive for Loudoun Hunger Relief collecting over 300 pounds of food for the Thanksgiving holiday. Lastly, Culver City employees lead a collection of holiday toys at the office for non-profit Toys for Tots.
Symantec employees in Culver City donate to the Toys for Tots holiday gift drive.
Asia Pacific & Japan
- Chennai Fulfills New Years Wishes for Students
Symantec Community OutReach Programme (SCORP) in Chennai is holding an iWish event in association with Team Everest NGO. Through the program, employees fulfill holiday wish lists provided by Team Everest for students with single parents. Presents range from a watch to a dictionary to toys and more. Symantec has committed to fulfilling 91 children’s wishes this year.
- Sydney Operation Christmas Cheer
For the 12th year, the Sydney office held its ‘Operation Christmas Cheer’ with the Salvos Chatswood Salvation Army. More than 50 employees took part in this year’s event for the Salvation Army, volunteering to purchase, wrap and unload toys, gifts and food hampers. Additionally, the event included a food drive, where 200 employees in the office were asked to donate at least one item of non–perishable food.
- Cape Town Supports Baitul Ansaar Home for Children
Over 100 employees from the Cape Town office compiled goodie bags for children of the Baitul Ansaar Child and Youth Centre. Nearly 80 bags were created and given to children up to 14 years of age containing soap, facecloths, stationary and clothes, with a special toy wrapped separately for the children to receive on Christmas day.
More than 50 employees at Symantec’s Sydney office took part in this years ‘Operation Christmas’ for the Salvation Army.
Over 100 employees from Symantec’s Cape Town office volunteered to support the children of the Baitul Ansaar Child and Youth Centre.
