Volunteering & Community

This year, over 7,300 Shire employees volunteered 29,000 hours and we partnered with over 250 charities in 300 global locations.

Earlier this month, I joined a team of Dell volunteers from sales and the Dell Veterans and Supporters Employee Resource Group to support UTR and their “40 Million Stories” Campaign. By manning the UTR recording studio at the recent Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) Exposition in Washington, D.C., we were able to see first-hand how UTR records soldiers reading bedtime stories out-loud for their children to listen to while they’re away.

Charlotte Bittner, 9, wants to be a veterinarian and own an animal clinic when she grows up. Bella Mercedes Ahgupuk, 14, wants to be a health aide. They both agree that participating in Lemonade Day has helped start them on the path toward their future careers. Find out how creating a lemonade stand teaches kids about profit-making goals, serving customers, repaying investors — and giving back to their communities.

As the year comes to an end, you are likely wrapping-up your employee giving program activities. But what exactly does wrapping up your program entail?

While you may be familiar with the work of Make-A-Wish® Mid-Atlantic, you may not know the impact a wish experience can have on not only local wish kids, but also their families, medical teams, volunteers and even local community supporters. Serving children who reside in Maryland, the District of Columbia and northern Virginia since 1983, Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic has granted the wishes of more than 9,500 children fighting illnesses such as cancer, pediatric AIDS, cystic fibrosis, Duchene’s muscular dystrophy and heart disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is an overwhelming degenerative condition for individuals and the family members who care for them. Yet there is hope in the promise of new research. Donors can help bring that promise to fruition by supporting innovative, high-quality scientific research through BrightFocus Foundation’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research program.

After successfully serving in the U.S. Army for 21 years, I retired and was ready for a second career. I had experience in Medical Supply Logistics; however, I found myself leaving the military without a degree or certification, and wondering if I would be able to find a job.

We are facing increased attacks against civil rights. The current presidential administration has launched an “Election Integrity Commission” aimed at thwarting non-existent voter fraud that will lead to more voter suppression nationwide.

Each year 27,000 children in the United States are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. For these children, simple surprises and joys of life are eclipsed by doctors’ visits, hospital stays, medical tests and treatments. The lives of their family members shift to a place of fear and stress. These are the families that Give Kids The World Village welcomes to a place where time slows down.

GSK today announced the GSK IMPACT Award Winners for the Philadelphia region in a ceremony at GSK’s Navy Yard site. Ten local nonprofits were awarded $40,000 each in recognition of their outstanding contributions to a healthier Philadelphia region.