Apple told employees on Monday that it is launching a new volunteer program, encouraging the employees to volunteer in their local communities. The program is said to be available for both retail and corporate employees.
Under the new Apple Global Volunteer Program, Apple is offering employees a way to receive training and tools to help them create and publicize local volunteer events to better their communities. The program, currently available in the United States, Sydney, and Cork, also aims to help employees find activities to volunteer for.
Apple’s memo to employees reads as follows:
Since its launch in 2011, the Apple Matching Gifts Program has been an astounding success, with a combined total of over $78 million donated to charities and non-profits around the world. Now employees in the U.S. have a new way to make an even bigger impact on the causes they care about where they live: the Apple Global Volunteer Program. The program empowers employees to become Volunteer Champions and receive training and tools to help organize and publicize volunteer events in their communities. It also makes it easy for employees to find activities where they can volunteer their time and qualify for Matching Gifts. Right now we’re piloting the program in the U.S., Sydney, and Cork with the goal of expanding it worldwide in the future.
Apple’s Matching Gifts Program [PDF] began in 2011. Under the program, Apple matches the money its employees contribute to charities, (up to $10,000 per employee per year). Apple also donates $25 per hour to any non-profit organization where an employee volunteers.
