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.

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 2nd, 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.

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:

“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”.

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”.