Extreme – and each of its employees – has always taken its commitment to make communities a better place to live… seriously. In each of our major office locations around the world, the team regularly volunteers its time… to simply put, do good. Never has there been a more important time to volunteer than now – when billions of people around the globe have been impacted by COVID-19 and social injustice.
December 5th marks International Volunteer Day as designated by the UN General Assembly. This day is a unique opportunity for volunteers and organizations to celebrate their efforts, share values, and promote their work within their respective communities. On this International Volunteer Day, I wanted to take a moment and celebrate the philanthropic efforts of our employees.
Extreme recently partnered with United Way to bring much-needed Wi-Fi services, technology, and training to communities in need. Going forward, our partnership will help bridge the digital divide – a global issue with a huge impact, as over half of the world’s population still lack access to quality high-speed internet access.
While we’re working with the United Way around the world, our employees regularly take on community-specific projects that are spearheaded by employee committees.
American India Foundation
The American India Foundation (AIF) is among the largest, secular, non-profit American organizations devoted to accelerating social and economic change in India. Extreme is working with AIF to support its Digital Equalizer Initiative, which helps bridge the digital and educational divide for students throughout India by providing technology-based learning in government schools.
Our employees, more than fifteen percent of whom are located in India, have collaborated with and provided funding to AIF to digitally transform schools in Chennai and Bangalore. Employees can also volunteer at participating schools to lead activities like teaching students English communication skills. AIF and Extreme’s involvement at these schools has driven commendable results in improving teacher training and program quality, increasing attendance, and reducing the dropout rate.
Lazarus House Ministries
For over 10 years, employees in our Salem, New Hampshire office have gathered once a month to serve lunch to people in need at the Lazarus House soup kitchen in nearby Lawrence, Massachusetts. They also purchase, prepare, and serve dinner to hungry individuals and families at the Lazarus House homeless shelter.
Habitat for Humanity
Last year, San Jose employees participated in building mini homes as part of a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity. The playhouses Extreme employees constructed were donated to Blue Star Mothers of America, a nonprofit that provides support to mothers and/or maternal figures who have sons or daughters in active service in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Yellow Brick House
Yellow Brick House provides emergency shelters for women and children in transition. Employees in Toronto regularly collect and deliver food and toiletries, providing much-needed resources for nutrition and hygiene year-after-year.
Salvation Army Angel Tree
Extreme employees across the US raise funds and give gifts through the Salvation Army’s annual Angel Tree gift drive, helping to make sure underprivileged local children and families had presents to open during the holiday season.
Royal Berkshire Hospital
In Reading, UK, employees participated in a 10K run and long-distance bicycle ride to raise funds for the Royal Berkshire Hospital.
Milford Care Centre
Extreme employees in our Shannon, Ireland office fundraised for this community organization via a variety of activities, including running the Milford Hospice Annual 10K in Limerick which helped fund the fit-out of two new hospice rooms.
At Extreme, we look forward to continuing to increase our time spent volunteering in 2021. Most notably, we look forward to kicking off a day of service for all employees globally on Extreme’s 25th anniversary, May 6, 2021.
As Extreme enters our 25th year, we are committed to doing more to protect and advance the quality of life for our employees, customers, partners, suppliers, shareholders, and our broader communities.
