Texanthropy Spotlight: Google
This week we are spotlighting Google - a company well-known for its charitable work in local communities. Google has been an active member of the Austin community for the last ten years and has made a major Texanthropic impact through partnerships with regional organizations, volunteer work, and community grants. The company’s philanthropic efforts in Texas are broad, ranging from computer science education, to working to bridge the digital divide, to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.
Google’s efforts to advance computer science education in Texas are particularly worth highlighting. The company encourages youth from underrepresented communities to pursue STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) careers through local organizations like Girlstart and Con Mi MADRE. Support for these organizations ties in to Google’s larger mission to make computer science more accessible to all students.
Google strongly encourages its employees to give back to their communities as well. Every year in June, employees participate in GoogleServe, a month-long event that connects employees to volunteer opportunities in their area by partnering with organizations like Habitat for Humanity and the Special Olympics. During GoogleServe 2016, employees at Google’s Texas office volunteered over 1,000 hours to make a profound impact on 16 local non-profit organizations. Activities included preparing over 6,000 meals through the Central Texas Food Bank and hosting the first ever Latina mother-daughter Made With Code party. This June, Google’s Texas volunteers focused on improving three core areas: education, economic opportunity, and inclusion.
In addition to GoogleServe, employees can spend 20 hours of paid work time throughout the year volunteering. Year round, Google employees volunteer 250,000 hours of their time to local nonprofits and organizations around the world.
Google also provides community grants to organizations that advance knowledge and innovation in important service initiatives. Past Google grant recipients include Goodwill’s Excel Center - the first free public charter high school in Texas to provide adults of all ages with the opportunity to earn their diploma.
Most recently, with over 450 Google employees calling Texas home, the company has stepped up and committed $2 million to relief efforts for Hurricane Harvey. Additionally, since Harvey made initial landfall, the Google Crisis Response team has been working to ensure people affected by the storm have access to timely, official information about the event.
We are grateful for the efforts Google makes throughout our great state. To learn more about ways Google is making an impact in Texas and around the world, visit www.Google.org.