It’s been a tumultuous year for corporate America, with even the heaviest hitters seeing their profits shrink. Still, most big companies scraped together enough money for charity while the economy faltered.
As The Great Recession shows signs of fading, here’s a look back at what some national companies based in Bellevue did for 2009:
Expedia made its latest push this year by surprising a number of Eastside non-profit groups with grants for the holidays.
The company awarded $5,000 to the Humane Society of King County, $2,250 to The Sophia Way program that helps Eastside homeless women achieve independence, and $2,250 to support the Overlake Service League’s holiday gift and food program.
“There’s a perception that there is a low demand for social services on the Eastside, which we’ve learned isn’t the case,” said Expedia spokeswoman Megan Prine.
Symetra Financial came through for its home town by signing a four-year contract extension to sponsor Bellevue’s annual downtown Independence Day fireworks display, known as “The Symetra Family 4th.”
“We feel that especially in hard times, it’s our responsibility to step up and help those who make this a great place to live and work,” said Symetra director of corporate and social responsibility Stan Emert.
All told, Symetra sponsored at least eight events in the Puget Sound region, including the American Cancer Society’s Strides Walk in Bellevue. The company also donated $30,000 in grants for unique learning programs in Seattle Public Schools.
T-Mobile this year donated over $2 million in cash and in-kind services to City Year, a national non-profit dedicated to getting youths and young adults involved with community service.
The company also sponsored two City Year teams that worked daily with kids in Seattle-area schools.
The Puget Sound Energy Foundation distributed $600,000 to local charities in 2009, handing out almost $245,000 in December alone.
Much of the corporate kindness this year reflected the hearts of local workers and communities as much as the companies themselves.
Symetra employees donated $6,100 to provide food gift certificates for struggling families, and they collected toys, books, clothes, and household necessities for 122 people in need.
Workers at the company also participated in the Symetra Week of Service, taking part in volunteer opportunities that included building a ropes course for the YMCA, restoring waterways, and creating a rose garden for the city of Sammamish.
Three Symetra employee teams also served meals at Ronald McDonald House each month, and workers at the Bellevue headquarters ended the year with a $1,000 shopping spree at Costco to benefit the Hopelink Kirkland food bank.
T-Mobile this year continued to fund and operate its Huddle Up employee volunteer and corporate giving program, which focuses on helping kids during after-school hours.
Puget Sound Energy handed out over 400 strands of LED holiday lights for food and cash donations at Eastside holiday events that drew more than 10,000 people. The company raised over $5,000 and collected more than 400 pounds of groceries for households supported by Hopelink.
Those efforts served a twofold purpose, feeding people in need and reducing energy consumption.
