Apple highlights Employee Giving program, global volunteer initiatives

Apple has highlighted some of the various ways that its employees volunteer, donate, or otherwise give back to the communities in which they live.

In a feature story published Tuesday, the company gave updated statistics on its Apple Employee Giving program, as well as other initiatives like the Community Investment team and its Strengthen Local Communities (SLC) grant program.

The Employee Giving program celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2021. In the decade that it was existed, the program has raised nearly $725 million for 39,000 organizations. In 2021 alone, the program distributed more than $120 million.

That grand total includes nearly two million volunteer hours logged by 68,000 employees.

Apple's Employee Giving program contributions are in addition to the millions of dollars donated by the Community Investment team and SLC grant program each year, the company added.

Some beneficiaries of Apple's community investments include The King Center, World Central Kitchen, and the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation. The SLC program provides fundings to organizations in communities where Apple employees live and work.

Apple also highlighted specific stories of its employees giving back, including corporate team member Mandy Haven, who volunteers with the Crisis Text Line from her California home and chats with people who are dealing with difficult situations.

"It makes me so happy that Apple helps to magnify the time I put into this," Haven said. "The money goes to such an amazing organization that is meeting people where they are during a really difficult time."

Tom Sheppard, an Apple Store team member from New York City, has volunteered 1,000 years over the course of a three-year-period. In response, Apple donated $10,000 to match the time through the Giving program.

"Find the thing you're passionate about, figure out how you can share that with other people, and then see how Apple can help you amplify sharing it," Sheppard said. "Sharing my love of technology was so important because it was exposing these kids to something they didn't have access to before — and maybe that opens up a future of more opportunity."

Elsewhere in the world, Apple also supports volunteer and donation efforts internationally, including in Cork, Ireland. One project that Apple supports in Ireland include Nasc, an organization that works to support migrants and refugees, including through resources like the Gateway program for women.

"Our aim is to meet women where they are and promote self-confidence, self-esteem, and inclusion," said Gateway coordinator Claire Mackaey. "Apple has helped to keep the project running, and has given us the flexibility to be creative with how we support women. It's given us the reassurance that we can maintain the work, and that means so much to us and to the people we're helping."