PEOPLE's 100 Companies That Care 2021: Meet the Employers Putting Their Communities First

Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.

A family-owned chain of 106 supermarkets with stores from North Carolina to Massachusetts, Wegmans is 2021's top Company that Cares.

The Rochester, NY-based chain gives back to the community in a variety of ways, from providing seniors free rides to their stores and to medical appointments, to donating more than 18 million pounds of unsold items to local food banks and $30 million for hunger relief just last year.

Employees at each store play a key role in giving back, deciding which donation requests are most needed in their communities. And Wegmans pays team members for donating their time and talents to serve those in need, an incentive that helped make some of the company's charitable initiatives in 2020—including a Salvation Army Christmas Bureau Distribution and an annual flu shot campaign—huge successes.

"At Wegmans, we are a family company, guided by the principle to Always Help Others," wrote the Wegman family in a heartfelt message reinforcing its core values in March 2020 as pandemic uncertainty grew. "We want to let you know we're thinking about all of you—our people, our customers, our suppliers and our communities."

In the photo: Wegmans employees in Brooklyn, NY, prepare for a food donation to the Brooklyn Justice Initiatives.

Cisco

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Cisco, an innovative network hardware company, contributed $227 million to nonprofits providing aid to those who needed it most. The company also opened up its childcare center—based at its San Jose, Calif. headquarters—offering free childcare to frontline healthcare workers, nursing home aides, social workers, nurses and doctors. Additionally, Cisco's $1 million contribution to the #FirstRespondersFirst initiative has helped extend those free services to healthcare workers in North Carolina, Illinois and Texas.

Outside of its pandemic healthcare response, Cisco donated $4 million in an initiative with Destination Home to support economically at-risk families in Silicon Valley. The company has also contributed another $4 million to NGOs around the world through employee and matching contributions.

"Cisco cares deeply about their employees' well-being inside and outside the company," says one team member. "At this company, we come together to solve any issues that arise."

In the photo: Employees participate in the 2020 Cisco Covenant House Sleepout to support homeless youth.

PulteGroup, Inc.

This Atlanta-based homebuilder with operations in 40 cities has committed its resources to providing homes for wounded veterans—constructing and donating 58 houses worth $23 million across America to date.

"I remember asking myself why these strangers would do this for me?" says John McCrillis, a Green Beret and married father of three who was severely wounded in Afghanistan and received a home in 2013. "I had never experienced such kindness. [PulteGroup's] program gave me a new view on life and helped me accomplish so much more than I would have."

PulteGroup also helps team members with its Employee Emergency Assistance Fund. During the early days of the pandemic when sales plummeted, senior executives diverted almost $500,000 in compensation to the fund, which issued 200 checks to furloughed employees. One employee even donated a part of his salary.

"One of our guiding principles is do the right thing," he explains. "This felt like the right thing."

In the photo: As part of the Built to Honor program, PulteGroup employees break ground at a veteran home donation event in June 2021.

Hilton

Hilton, the world-wide hotel and resort company, granted more than $1 million in October through its Hilton Effect Foundation to support grassroots community groups helping the disadvantaged and homeless severely impacted by the pandemic.

"We're all interconnected and can help one another during challenging times," says Terence Lester, executive director of Love Beyond Walls, which received a grant.

In addition, Hilton helped thousands of medical professionals on the front lines with its 1 Million Rooms initiative, providing free stays at hotels across the country.

"Hilton became my family while I was here," says Natalie Morreale, an ER nurse who worked in New York City for two months. "Hotel staffers would greet us with a smile, with a nice sign or note, and just say thank you. This is not an experience I will ever forget, and the Hilton team really made it possible in so many ways."

In the photo: On Oct. 22, the Hilton Effect Foundation announced 23 grant winners, including Love Beyond Walls, a group that assembles portable handwashing stations for people experiencing homelessness.

Accenture

Accenture, a global professional services company headquartered in New York City, values inclusion and diversity among staffers—with a group of like-minded employers/organizations— to hire 100,000 low-income and minority New Yorkers by 2030. Committed to providing employees valuable resources, Accenture also launched the "We Stand Together Against Racism" commitment, an effort that provides training, online resources and transparent updates on the company's demographics.

The company has also created the Black Founders Development Program to invest in Black-founded and run startups. "We intend to play a meaningful role in creating the next generation of Black technology startups," says Kathryn Ross, Global Open Innovation Lead and the Black Founders Development Program lead for Accenture Ventures.

"This company's commitment to diversity at all levels makes it unique," says an Accenture staffer. "They do a great job of explaining why diversity is needed and they provide their leadership the incentive to achieve those goals."

In the photo: Atlanta-based Accenture team members pack COVID-19-relief health kits to ship to India in May 2021.

Capital One Financial Corporation

Capital One, a massive financial and insurance institution headquartered in McLean, VA, gives every HR associate a $50 gift card to "pay it forward," which staffers have used to buy strangers gas, groceries and Christmas gifts.

Through its Capital One Coders program, employees partner with students in schools across the country to help spur interest in science, tech, engineering and math. Some 4,000 students participated in 2019, a year that saw a Guinness World Record set for the largest artificial intelligence programming lesson ever, with 846 students and Capital One volunteers at a Texas event.

Combating climate change is another company value, as more than 20 volunteer-led green teams in offices across the country have supported composting, the elimination of single-use water bottles and the recycling of 6,495 pounds of personal electronics.

"We have servant leaders with hearts of gold," says one employee.

In the photo: A Capital One software engineer helped lead a community response to a plastic facemask shortage at area hospitals in 2020.

Camden Property Trust

Camden Property Trust, a Houston-based real estate investment trust company, realized during the pandemic that many of its employees were unable to work due to illness, childcare issues or quarantine. So the company guaranteed continued compensation to help staffers though these times—more than $800,000 in emergency pay last year.

In addition, the company donated $1 million to an employee assistance fund to help those facing financial difficulties exacerbated by COVID-19. A quarter of the relief fund came personally from senior executives.

"The amount of care the company has for its employees is outstanding to the point of unheard of. Friends and family are surprised when I tell them about what Camden has done for me," says an employee. "I truly feel financially secure at all times."

In the photo: Camden employees celebrate Maintenance Appreciation Day on June 15, 2020.

Bank of America

To help its customers struggling financially in the wake of the pandemic, Bank of America, one of the world's largest financial institutions, has provided payment deferrals for more than 1.5 million accounts and supported more than 495,000 small business clients with more than $35 billion in loans through the Paycheck Protection Program.

In response to current racial justice issues, the Charlotte, North Carolina-based company committed $1.25 billion to create opportunities for people of color in areas of health and healthcare, jobs and skill development, housing and support for small businesses.

"The way that the management team, senior executives, and my leadership team reacted to the pandemic and to the systemic racism issues this year showed me how great our company is," says one staffer, "and how much our leaders truly care about our people."

In the photo: Bank of America is building on a longstanding commitment to attract, develop and retain military talent, having hired more than 10,000 veterans, guardsmen and reservists.

Salesforce

Salesforce is a San Francisco-based technology company and Companies that Care superstar, not only caring for its employees , but for employees who love to give. One of its newest volunteer programs, the Salesforce Mentor Initiative, matches small business owners across the country in need of guidance with staffers who share their skills in accounting, marketing, customer service and other areas.

Further, Salesforce committed $5 million in grants of up to $10,000 each to help small businesses replenish materials, pay salaries or adapt their business models during these tough economic times.

"This is the best company I've ever worked for," says one employee. "Salesforce encourages a culture that prioritizes way more than just doing your job. I feel my well-being is truly considered, and I am encouraged to help the communities around me."

In the photo: Children participate in the Salesforce Adventurers Club, a reimagined, virtual bring-your-kids-to-work event held in July 2021.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company

The Houston-based Hewlett Packard Enterprise, a global information technology company, has made the well-being of its employees and their families a priority with its "Work That Fits Your Life" program.

This initiative includes six months of fully paid parental leave for new moms and dads after the birth or adoption of a child, and allows new parents the ability to work part-time for up to 36 months.

The company has proven its commitment to volunteerism, as well. Team members receive 60 hours of paid volunteer time off annually, resulting in more than 1 million volunteer hours logged since the program's launch in 2016. In addition, staffers receive $25 credits from the HPE Foundation to donate to a tech nonprofit, totaling more than $1 million contributed to 31 organizations to date.

"[HPE] provides a welcoming, interesting, agile, forward-moving culture that is hard to beat," says an employee.

In the photo: Hewlett Packard Enterprise employees volunteer at a food bank pre-pandemic.

UKG

The workforce at Ultimate Kronos Group, one of the world's largest cloud companies, is committed to taking care of each other, particularly through the pandemic. The company and staffers have raised more than $1.5 million for adversely affected employees and their family members.

To keep the giving going, the Weston, Fla.- and Lowell, Mass.-based company created the PeopleInspired Giving Foundation, a nonprofit that has provided more than $268,000 to 100 UKG employees and their families impacted by unforeseen tragedy.

Meanwhile, all employees receive invaluable perks: 100 percent company-paid healthcare premiums for themselves, spouses, domestic partners and children; a 45 percent dollar-for-dollar match on all 401(k) contributions; 12 weeks of paid leave for new mothers; and unlimited paid time off for any reason.

"I am honored and privileged to get to work for a company that puts its people first," says one staffer.

*Results are based on Great Place to Work® Certification™ for 2020. UKG acquired Great Place to Work on Sept. 1, 2021 and will be ineligible for rankings which consider Certification in 2021 and beyond.

In the photo: UKG team members participate in a Miami Dolphins Foundation food distribution event at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on March 4, 2021.

Atlassian, Inc.

Atlassian—a San Francisco-based software company that works with millions of users worldwide—is a founding member of Pledge 1%, the corporate initiative to direct 1 percent of product, profit, equity and employee time to charitable causes. The benefit for nonprofits: more than $17 million, 37,000 employee volunteer hours and 61,000+ donated licenses.

"I love the fact that we are so involved in the community and have ways to volunteer and do meaningful things even during working hours," says one employee. "For me, this is by far the best company I worked for."

Atlassian also cares about the environment, and in December 2020 announced that the company runs all its operations on 100 percent renewable energy, four years ahead of the originally scheduled goal date. Next, Atlassian will set its sites on achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

In the photo: New Atlassian hires are given an award-winning sustainable welcome kit.

Rocket Companies

Detroit-based Rocket Companies, a personal finance and consumer technology company with brands including Rocket Mortgage, is devoted to transforming its home city and the lives of its citizens.

More than $2.4 million raised from the Rocket Mortgage Classic, a PGA tour event the company sponsors, is earmarked for its Connect 313 Fund, aiming to guarantee every city resident access to a reliable internet connection. Another initiative, Connected Futures, which includes several other companies and foundations, provided 50,000 Detroit students with laptops and free internet access to help with online learning during the pandemic.

The company has also dedicated itself to employees' well-being, opening the Rock Health Collective, the only employer-sponsored, on-site health center and pharmacy in Detroit, serving 20,000 employees and their families.

"The people here flat out care," says an employee. "They care about their community, their clients and for each other."

In the photo: Rocket employees participate in an initiative to provide laptops and internet access to students studying virtually during the pandemic.

Synchrony Financial

Synchrony, a consumer financial services company headquartered in Stamford, Conn., reacted to the social justice protests last year with widespread support to ensure its Black employees felt heard and cared for. During a 'Week of Solidarity' aimed at standing up to intolerance, Black employees shared their experiences and provided guest speakers to the 4,200 staffers—some 25 percent of the workforce—who participated.

Families matter to Synchrony, and to prove it, the company boosted (from 25 to 60) the number of days an employee can receive up to $100/day reimbursement for childcare and eldercare. It also began offering a summer camp to provide children of employees working virtually a place to go.

"Synchrony's culture is beautifully unique," says one employee. "It's something you just feel. We're working together toward a common purpose that we all believe in. You see this from the top down."

In the photo: A Synchrony employee delivers donations to an area school.

Edward Jones

While no employees of Edward Jones, a financial services firm based in St. Louis, were furloughed during the pandemic, many were still significantly impacted by COVID-19. Colleagues and retirees decided to help, raising almost $1 million for the company's disaster relief fund, which distributed the money to staffers in need.

"We emphasize deeply caring for our fellow employees and providing aid and financial assistance for those suffering through the pandemic, hurricanes and other life events," says one associate.

Edward Jones is also continuing its commitment to finding a cure for Alzheimer's, pledging donations of $25 million over the next five years to the Alzheimer's Association, to which it has already contributed $25 million since 2016. The investment is the largest commitment ever pledged by a corporate partner to the organization and will advance research and enhance access to care.

In the photo: Texas-based Edward Jones team members attend the Walk to End Alzheimer's last fall.

Adobe

Adobe, the San Jose, Calif. computer software company behind Photoshop and Acrobat, hasn't overlooked the artistic community struggling due to the pandemic. To provide relief, it started a $1 million Creative Residency Community Fund to finance projects and hire creatives for Adobe-commissioned projects.

Helping those in need is a core Adobe value. The company committed $1 million to match—and then double—employee donations made to groups addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than $1.6 million ultimately raised. In addition, the company has committed $4.6 million to organizations providing assistance locally and across the world.

"The people at Adobe genuinely care about each other and their communities," says an employee. "It shows in the volunteering activities that employees sponsor at work and in their personal lives."

In the photo: An employee competes in the 2021 Adobe Pride Bake Off, a cake-decorating challenge to raise funds for LGBTQ+ causes.

Bright Horizons Family Solutions

Bright Horizons is a Newton, Mass.-based childcare and early education provider operating some 1,100 centers across the United States and in three other countries.

During the pandemic, the company opened eight childcare centers to offer free services to frontline healthcare workers. "Before this I was worried about how I was going to work, how I was going to feed my family and, on top of that, where my child was going to be during this hard time," says Denishia Owens, a patient service specialist at George Washington University Hospital in Washington D.C. "This was truly a gift."

The company's Horizons Teacher Degree Program allows its teachers and staff to earn an early education associate's and bachelor's degree for free, with no out-of-pocket expenses. More than 1,500 employees have participated and more than 100 have graduated. "Words cannot express the gratitude I have for this company," says one degree program participant.

In the photo: Bright Horizons teachers celebrate their graduation from San Francisco State University.

Publix Super Markets

Like all supermarket employees, workers at Publix, a Lakeland, Florida-based chain with over 1,270 stores through the South, could not work from home during the pandemic, and the company recognized that commitment and selflessness with accelerated, permanent pay increases.

In addition, Publix made sure that workers with little to no sick pay were paid for time missed related to COVID-19. "I have been with Publix for almost three years now," says an employee, "and I could not complain about a single thing."

Recognizing the millions of Americans struggling with increased food insecurity this last year and a half, the company purchased more than 18 million pounds of produce and 500,000 gallons of milk from farmers struggling to stay afloat during the pandemic, then donated the food to needy families through Feeding America food banks.

In the photo: Publix employees in Lakeland, Florida participate in a food drive last year.

Dell Technologies

Dell Technologies is a multinational, cutting-edge digital solutions company based in Round Rock, Texas. A central goal of the company is to provide job opportunities for more people, including those with two-year degrees, which had led to apprenticeship programs and new recruitment effort of students at two dozen U.S. community colleges.

In an effort to reduce the isolation of working from home due to the pandemic, Dell employees have formed peer-to-peer support groups, covering a range of topics like "Parenting in a Pandemic" and "Quarantine Fatigue." And to help working parents with children learning at home, Dell has offered learning pods, tutoring and educational nanny support.

"Even though the company is huge, it feels more intimate, like a family-run business," says one staffer. "Since we all spend significant amount of our lives working, knowing that your 'family' always has your back, up or down, is meaningful."

In the photo: Dell now offers employees flexible work-from-home arrangements and support resources for parenting during the pandemic.

CHG Healthcare Services

CHG Healthcare Services, which staffs hospitals and clinics throughout the country with doctors, nurses and other health professionals, encourages its employees to be there for one another. To foster that culture of support, the company enhanced its Employee Compassion Fund—to which 600 employees contribute via voluntary payroll deductions—that provides tax-free grants of up to $2,000 to staffers experiencing financial hardship. To help those contributions make an even bigger impact, CHG's private nonprofit, the Making a Different Foundation, matches contributions at 50%.

In addition, the Salt Lake City-based company's rapid relief grants provide up to $600 (in less than 24 hours) for employees to pay important bills. "It was such an edifying experience to get one of these grants," says an employee in Utah. "I'm thankful to work for a company that bends over backward for us."

In the photo: Even as CHG operations went remote, employees continued to show up for blood drives.

Anthem, Inc.

Anthem, a health insurance company based in Indianapolis, encourages employees to deal with their mental health by devoting time to "me minutes" each day with pleasurable and mind-rejuvenating activities. So far, staffers have recorded over 2 million "me minutes."

Giving to others is also a company priority, and in 2019, employees volunteered 100,975 hours via Anthem's Dollars for Doers program and raised $7.9 million through the Employee Giving Program, which then donates the funds to a cause most meaningful to each staffer.

Meanwhile, the company provided $54 million in grants through the Anthem Foundation to help with community issues like food insecurity and housing, with another $50 million pledged over the next five years.

"Anthem is an advocate for a diverse workforce that serves our diverse community," says one employee. "This is a company that is genuinely working hard to make our communities healthier, safer and better."

In the photo: Anthem employees volunteer at a food drive in the parking lot of the company's Indianapolis headquarters.

Ryan LLC

Ryan is a Dallas-based corporate tax advisory firm that has made the well-being of its employees a priority, offering RyanTHRIVE, an online platform providing strategies for staffers looking to improve their physical and mental health.

Since giving to others can also improve well-being, the company provides 16 hours annually of paid volunteer time to firm-sponsored community outreach events, while the Ryan Foundation matches 50 percent of employee donations to charities of their choice.

"The company, from senior management down to coworkers, cares about the work being done and team members' well-being," says a Ryan employee. "The working environment at the company is built strongly on inclusion of ideas and teamwork."

In the photo: An employee packs care bags to distribute on RyanSHARES Day, a firm-wide volunteer service event, on July 17, 2020.

Target Corporation

Target, one of the largest retailers in the U.S., makes employee and community appreciation top priorities. In 2020, the Minneapolis-based company permanently invested $1 billion more than the previous year to boost minimum starting wages to $15/ hour, pay bonuses, provide paid leave and make a $10 million donation for its relief fund benefiting nonprofits.

The retailer cares about employee health, which it has proven by providing two hours of additional pay for each dose of the COVID vaccine a staffer receives. (Target also offers free Lyft rides to the vaccination site.) On the diversity and inclusion front, Target recently adopted a goal of increasing the number of Black employees by 20 percent and established a Racial Equity Action and Change (REACH) committee.

"People treat me the exact way I want to be treated," says a transgender employee. "I feel wanted at Target. Target appreciates me as a diverse person and sees the skills I have to offer."

In the photo: Target team members distribute fresh food and essentials to the Minneapolis community in summer 2020.

Marriott International, Inc.

Marriott—headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, and operating and franchising hotels and vacation resorts across the globe—has made a commitment to supporting employees' mental health. The company offers online webinars and health coaches, and recently partnered with a resilience platform, meQuilibrium, to teach stress management techniques to team members.

"Marriott is invested in the well-being of all associates, including those returning to work or currently furloughed, as well as frontline associates who may be dealing with anxiety, uncertainty and stress," says David Rodriguez, Marriott's global chief human resources officer.

When 36,000 blood drives were canceled due to COVID-19, Marriott issued a call to its hotels, encouraging them to make space for the American Red Cross for safe, socially distanced donation locations. This initiative has resulted in more than 2,400 units of blood and is ongoing.

In the photo: Marriott International associates in the United Arab Emirates team up for a blood drive on October 6, 2020.

Texas Health Resources

While a record number of healthcare workers were furloughed or laid off last year, Texas Health Resources, a large network of hospitals and healthcare facilities based in Arlington, kept everyone employed.

"We felt that this was the right thing to do, not only because our employees need to feed their families, but also because it creates a sense of loyalty," says Carla Dawson, chief people officer of Texas Health. "We want to ensure that when we need them, like when there's a surge, they are there for us."

Additionally, THR provides much-needed mental health aid to help staffers deal with the stress of treating the overwhelming number of COVID-19 patients, through a virtual self-care program and sessions with mental health providers to learn coping strategies and receive support.

"Our main goal is to acknowledge and normalize what people are experiencing," says Debbie Hillard, PsyD and a manager with the employee assistance program.

In the photo: Texas Health mammographer Colleen Newton, who was redeployed as a COVID-19 health screener, painted rocks to inspire others during dark days.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Hyatt, a hospitality chain with hotels located around the world, gave $17 million last year to thousands of financially strapped employees to help get them through the huge downturn the travel industry has suffered. The grants were made available through the Hyatt Care Fund, which was seeded in part by Hyatt CEO Mark Hoplamazian and Executive Chairman Tom Pritzker foregoing their salaries.

"I was uncertain how I was going to make it through during the pandemic," says one employee who received aid. "Because of [Hyatt's] generosity, I was able to navigate the challenges I faced."

Additionally, the Chicago-based Hyatt has sought ways to hire 10,000 "opportunity youth" from underprivileged communities by 2025 with its RiseHY initiative. The company also recently partnered with the Chicago Urban League and YearUp to share information with students of color about the hospitality industry.

In the photo: When on-site restaurants at Thompson Washington D.C., a Hyatt property, closed due to the pandemic, the hotel partnered with Chloe, a local minority-owned restaurant, to create a room service menu, through its Hyatt Loves Local initiative.

Genentech

Genentech, a South San Francisco-based biotech company that develops medicines targeting serious diseases, offers benefits that many companies don't, such as a paid 6-week sabbatical every six years and financial support for adoption or surrogacy.

The company also fully supports the fight for racial equality. Following the death of George Floyd, CEO Alexander Hardy pledged to use Genentech's "power, privilege and resources to advocate for equity and justice." Thousands of employees attended Dialogue Circles, and Genentech recalibrated its charitable giving to focus more on underserved students and communities of color.

"For me personally, as a Black woman, why would I ever leave Genentech?" says an employee named Bethany. "I'm working for a company that not only supports me in my work and my family during the pandemic, but has also taken action in an area that's been a deficit for me my entire career."

In the photo: Members of Genentech's African Americans in Biotechnology group donate care packages to staff and residents at the Eskaton Care Center Greenhaven in Sacramento in December 2020.

BetterUp

It's no surprise that BetterUp, a San Francisco-based leader in mobile coaching and mental fitness for businesses, has a comprehensive plan to keep employees happy, healthy and motivated. One of the most innovative aspects of company culture is a commitment to "Inner Work Days." Each team member devotes five days a year to activities that support their purpose and passion, from meditation to spending time outdoors for self-reflection.

"The time off is an opportunity to reset emotionally and develop what makes you better at work and a better person in general," says one BetterUpper. "It works!"

And, in turn, BetterUp employees are better able to address the needs of others, which the company is doing through its Coach Scholarship program—a $50,000 investment to increase the number of certified Black coaches in the professional sector—as well as an initiative to provide free coaching to healthcare workers and educators across the country.

In the photo: BetterUppers volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Monica earlier this summer.

David Weekley Homes

David Weekley Homes, the largest privately held single-family home builder in the U.S., has gone above and beyond in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, both for employees and for communities near and far.

By expanding PTO, offering two weeks paid recovery time and allowing extended leaves of absence at 50% pay, David Weekley is leading with compassion and care in uncertain times. And as part of the #BuildersCare campaign, the Houston-based company teamed up with preferred trade partners to collect and donate 3,400+ masks, 2,100+ eye protection items, 12 surgical gowns and 1,400 pairs of latex gloves to healthcare workers. In addition, the Weekley Family Foundation has donated more than $700,000 to organizations in Africa and India.

Says one employee: "I am thrilled to be a part of the team and work with such wonderful people who really do embrace service to others."

In the photo: The David Weekley Houston division assembles handwashing stations in communities throughout the city to help keep trade partners safe on the job.

OhioHealth

Like many other healthcare organizations, OhioHealth—a large not-for-profit system of hospitals and physicians based in Columbus—took a significant financial hit at the height of the pandemic due to the suspension of elective surgeries. Instead of layoffs or furloughs, OhioHealth relied on strategic redeployment, assigning 1,847 associates to temporary new roles that filled critical needs.

"They made a pledge to keep every associate whole during that time, and they did," says a team member. "From redeploying surgical scrub techs to other clinical areas and moving those in continuing education to field HR calls, every associate still got their full paycheck. That made me very proud to work for OhioHealth."

Through its Mission Matters online platform, OhioHealth has also encouraged and facilitated volunteerism, resulting in 5,000 employees donating 27,248 hours to 351 different charitable organizations.

In the photo: OhioHealth medical professionals volunteer at an African American Male Wellness Walk in August 2021.

Nationwide

Nationwide, a Columbus, Ohio-based insurance and financial services organization, found a silver lining to the many hardships and heartaches of 2020. The pandemic provided them an opportunity to do what they do best: put people first.

At the onset of COVID-19, senior leadership was asked to consider making additional contributions to Nationwide's Associates Helping Associates program, an employee-funded initiative that provides financial relief to employees affected by natural disasters, domestic violence and health-related emergencies. Responding to that call, senior leaders stepped up with a combined $75,000 in additional funding.

To help with social justice efforts, Nationwide has also committed $1 million to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and $1 million to the Equal Justice Initiative and the National Fair Housing Alliance's "Keys Unlock Dreams" initiative, which strives to give all Americans safe, affordable housing.

In the photo: Nationwide associates are greeted with a warm welcome and care bags upon their return to the office.

Otsuka America Pharmaceutical Inc.

Employees of Otsuka, a pharmaceutical company based in Princeton, NJ, focusing on developing products for unmet needs, have restored homes and buildings in Puerto Rico damaged by Hurricane Maria and packed thousands of meals for people in need as part of Rise Against Hunger's mission to end food insecurity by 2030.

Additionally, the Sozosei Foundation, established two years ago as the philanthropic arm of Otsuka, has committed nearly $4 million to U.S. organizations working to decriminalize mental illness and build resilient communities in six cities across the country. The foundation also supports organizations responding to global disasters, including COVID-19, in places Otsuka has a presence.

"During COVID, Otsuka came together like no other organization I've ever been a part of," says a staffer. "It has made me proud to be a part of this company."

In the photo: Otsuka team members on site in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, assisting with hurricane restoration efforts in 2019.

Atlantic Health System

Morristown, New Jersey-based Atlantic Health System is a regional healthcare organization with seven medical centers and more than 300 sites with urgent care and physician practices.

In an effort to safeguard mental and emotional well-being in increasingly stressful times, Atlantic Health started a Peer to Peer Responder Program for staffers, many on the frontlines, to confidentially connect to a trained listener to help alleviate emotional and physiological stress and trauma. The company also created numerous options for emotional support, including hotlines, virtual support groups and workshops on meditation, relaxation and breathing techniques. AHS also converted large auditoriums into "Zen Dens," peaceful refuges to help employees relax and recharge.

"This year more than any other has demonstrated the special work done at AHS," says an employee. "We took care of each other as much as we took care of our community members that came to us."

In the photo: Atlantic Health System employees participate in a tree sapling giveaway on Earth Day 2021.

Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America

Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America works to provide retirement solutions for its clients—and the company is doing the same for its employees.

In July 2020, Allianz launched a Student Loan Retirement program for employees whose debts weren't allowing them to adequately contribute to their 401(k). Enrollees receive a contribution from the company—up to 7.5% of eligible pay—to assist them in taking advantage of the matching plan and getting a jump on retirement savings earlier in their careers.

Headquartered in Golden Valley, Minn., a suburb of Minneapolis, Allianz also responded to community needs in the wake of George Floyd's death. The company more than doubled their charitable contributions, with $4.3 million going to organizations dictated by Allianz employees. The company also doubled the number of hours employees could devote to volunteerism while still receiving full salary.

In the photo: Allianz team members pack school supplies for 50,000 local students as part of Greater Twin Cities United Way's Action Day on August 12, 2021.

Bitwise Industries

Bitwise, an information technology firm based in Fresno, Calif., creates onramps into the tech world for marginalized individuals. The company's Geekwise Academy teaches coding to many who are traditionally excluded from the industry; to date, the academy has trained more than 4,500 people from diverse backgrounds, 80% of whom have found gainful employment in tech.

During the pandemic, Bitwise created OnwardCA, a statewide network connecting people impacted by COVID-19 to services, funds, training and necessities. In the first two days, the network helped 200,000 people find essential resources. The program was adopted in 11 states across the country and now serves one-third of the U.S. population.

Similarly, the company's TakeCare social initiative has served more than 250,000 meals to community members—and the software has been adopted by some of the largest food banks in California.

In the photo: The Bitwise team responded quickly to community needs at the height of the pandemic, delivering food and other essentials to thousands of people.

Alston & Bird LLP

Alston & Bird, an international law firm based in Atlanta, has offered up its expertise in response to pandemic demands, providing pro bono legal support to nonprofits and small businesses. The firm also joined a lawsuit to fight for the continuance of SNAP benefits for thousands of D.C residents, helped a New York nonprofit obtain relief funds critical to maintaining housing for 125 individuals and assisted with a legal transaction that provided 13,000 masks to organizations in Dallas.

In addition, Alston & Bird has launched a series of projects designed to promote racial justice and equity—notably joining other top law firms to launch the Law Firm Antiracism Alliance and providing emergency legal support to protestors in major cities throughout the country.

"There is a general firmwide feeling of 'we've got each other's back,'" says one employee. "We take care of one another."

In the photo: Alston & Bird attorneys meet with veterans at a pro bono legal clinic.

Nationwide Mortgage Bankers

For Nationwide Mortgage Bankers, the goal is to demystify mortgages through transparency, education and client support. NMB operates in 43 states and one of its subsidiaries, Americasa, specifically caters to the Hispanic community, a group that comprises nearly 30% of NMB's total business.

Reacting to the pandemic, the Melville, NY-based company created the Heroes Program, which allows medical workers, law enforcement, teachers and others serving critical community roles to obtain mortgages with significantly reduced fees—or none at all. NMB also donated thousands of pieces of PPE equipment, including KN-95 masks, gloves and hand sanitizer, to healthcare facilities and first responders.

"The company truly cares about its employees," says one NMB team member. "The preparation and actions taken [during the pandemic] to ensure everyone was safe was outstanding."

In the photo: Nationwide Mortgage Bankers delivered a thank you meal to heroes at Abington Hospital in Abington, Pennsylvania on May 1, 2020.

United Therapeutics Corporation

United Therapeutics Corporation is a biotechnology company based in Silver Spring, Md., that develops and commercializes innovative products for patients with chronic or life-threatening conditions. It's fitting, then, that the company sent every employee working from home a Crazy Cap Water Bottle, which uses deep UV LED light to purify water and eliminate up to 99% of germs on surfaces such as laptops and cell phones

But United Therapeutics' commitment to employees also had an old-school touch. CEO Martine Rothblatt sent personal notes and care packages to all 900 employees, thanking them for their continued hard work and wishing them and their families well.

"Martine's letter made me feel significant," says one employee. "Like my work was not going unnoticed. The amenities here show they really care about their employees and want them to have a good experience at work."

In the photo: United Therapeutics hosts an annual Bring Your Parents to Work Day (here in 2019), allowing team members to teach their mothers and fathers more about what their careers.

Ernst & Young LLP

EY, a global provider of assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services, abides by a central professional purpose: to build a better working world.

To this end, EY recently invested $3 million in organizations fighting social injustice, and contributed $4 million to four Historically Black Colleges and Universities to increase the number of Black professionals. "In times like these, it's no longer enough to not be racist," Kelly Grier, U.S. Chair and Managing Partner and Americas Managing Partner, wrote to all U.S. employees. "We have to be visibly and vocally anti-racist."

To protect the environment, EY achieved carbon neutrality at the end of 2020, and entered into a virtual power purchase agreement to finance and construct two largescale Texas windfarms, generating enough renewable energy credits to offset greenhouse gas emissions of EY's business footprint for the next 12 years.

In the photo: Ernst & Young employees participate in Habitat for Humanity earlier this year.

T-Mobile US, Inc.

T-Mobile, the telecommunications giant headquartered in Bellevue, Wash., provides wireless service to more than 98 million. And as the demand for reliable home internet connections increased, T-Mobile worked to provide customers up to 5GB per month of free data. The company also increased data allowances for students and schools to facilitate virtual learning during the pandemic—benefiting more than 775,000 students across more than 1,600 districts nationwide.

T-Mobile also launched Connecting Heroes, a initiative to provide free service and 5G access to all first responder agencies across the U.S. for an entire decade, and allocated $25 million in grants to support tech entrepreneurship for communities of color. Other investments in their community include funding new scholarships for people of color and expanding their talent development program to ensure more opportunities and upward mobility for minority team members.

In the photo: The team at T-Mobile's Albuquerque-based Menaul Customer Experience Center volunteers at a local food pantry.

ZS

A professional services firm that develops and delivers products that drive value and results, ZS and its team members have put that can-do spirit to good use in a variety of ways over the past year.

Team members from the Evanston, Ill. and Chicago offices biked 50 miles through Chicagoland, visiting five locations of By the Hands, an afterschool program dedicated to providing holistic care to youth through mentoring, homework help, meals, and eye and dental screenings, and raising money to help the organization continue its work.

ZS is also a founding member of Working for Women (W4W), a nonprofit focused on creating a world in which all women have the opportunity for economic independence. With another nonprofit, New Women New Yorkers, team members helped offer job search training and deliver more than 200 clothing items for disadvantaged women entering the workforce.

In the photo: ZS's Women's Leadership Initiative Group celebrates International Women's Day 2020.

Nugget Market, Inc.

This family-owned chain of 15 Northern California grocery stores loves showing how much they appreciate employees in ways big and small. At one location, the store managers even washed all the associates' cars!

"This is a family, plain and simple," says an employee. "The values that started the company in 1926 are still true today."

Across the company, Nugget Market employees were given $2 per hour appreciation pay increases, and 100 percent of employee healthcare premiums were covered, even for team members who opted to take leaves of absence during the pandemic.

Nugget has also looked beyond its stores, donating more than $1 million in goods to various food banks and shelters. And as California dealt with life-threatening wildfires Nugget partnered with the American Red Cross to set up a $25,000 matching funds campaign, while also contributing monetary aid directly to associates who experienced personal loss.

In the photo: Nugget Market employees make donations to the local community through a food recovery program.

NVIDIA

NVIDIA, headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., does groundbreaking work in accelerated computing, building specialized platforms for markets like gaming, professional visualization, data centers and autonomous machines. And when the pandemic began, team members channeled that expertise into research and relief.

NVIDIA is a member of the COVID-19 HPC Consortium, which brings together the government, industry and academia to bolster coronavirus research with the world's most powerful computing resources. Team members work with applicants to accelerate their work using NVIDIA's graphics processing capabilities.

NVIDIA also called on the gaming community to donate idle computing power in their gaming rigs to run the COVID-19 research project Folding@home. In just weeks, NVIDIA processing units from 350,000+ gamers helped amass a 1.5-exaflops system—more performance than the world's top 100 supercomputers combined.

"With invention and compassion, these challenging times can also be our finest hours," founder and CEO Jensen Huang told shareholders in June.

In the photo: This year NVIDIA unveiled Cambridge-1, the U.K.'s most powerful supercomputer. The system is being used to develop a deeper understanding of diseases, accelerate drug discovery and boost genome sequencing.

LaSalle Network

As a leading staffing and recruiting firm specializing in temporary and direct hires, LaSalle provides a valuable service to businesses looking to grow.

But in April 2020, amid a public health crisis and a tanking job market, LaSalle's business dropped 70% in only three days. Other companies might have given up, but CEO Tom Gimbel and senior leadership doubled down on their commitment to staffers, promising no layoffs, communicating with team members via town hall meetings and adding periodic days off for mental health. To protect his employees' paychecks, Gimbel went without his for six months.

The Chicago-based company also recently launched the LaSalle Veteran Network, a program—led by an Army veteran—that aims to help 1,000 veterans find employment in 2021.

"This place has changed my life," says one employee. "LaSalle invests so much in its employees and would do anything to ensure we learn, grow and excel."

In the photo: LaSalle Network associates sing carols to adults with special needs as part of the company's 10 Days of Giving.

Stryker

One of the world's leading medical technology companies, Stryker works every day to improve and save lives. The company reprocesses or remanufactures single-use medical devices (SUDs) to perform at their original level for at least one additional use, which saves customers roughly $375 million in supply costs and diverts 13.4 million pounds of waste from landfills per year.

In response to the crippling demands of COVID on the healthcare industry, the Kalamazoo, Mich.-based Stryker created the Emergency Relief Bed, a readily available bed for triage and pop-up care centers. The company also ramped up production of hygiene, disinfecting and surgical protection products, as well as stretchers, cots and defibrillators.

"A lot of companies have mission statements that look good on a big screen in front of an audience," says a Stryker employee. "This is the first place I've worked where the leadership truly believes and lives their mission every day."

In the photo: Stryker donated 22,500 Emergency Relief Bed kits to Project C.U.R.E., a nonprofit that delivers lifesaving medical equipment to hospitals and clinics throughout the developing world.

DHL Express U.S.

DHL transports time-sensitive documents and goods, door-to-door, to more than 220 countries and territories, but one of the company's most memorable recent deliveries was more than 100,000 cookies to Northwell Health Facilities in partnership with the Girl Scouts of Nassau County.

The Plantation, Fla.-headquartered DHL has also held nationwide food drives, collect collecting non-perishable items and funds to donate to Feeding America. The company's goal is to provide resources to equate to 500,000 meals for those in need.

In an effort to help the environment, DHL is piloting an eco-friendly eCargo three-wheel cycle program in Miami, with the goal of taking conventional delivery vans off the road, thereby reducing traffic, noise and pollution. They also deployed nearly 100 battery electric vans, and in Los Angeles are piloting the first four BYD Class 8 battery-electric trucks. These trucks will prevent more than 300 metric tons of greenhouse gas per year.

In the photo: DHL delivers letters, Christmas trees and other decorations to U.S. troops stationed abroad as part of DHL Operation Holiday Cheer.

Chime

Based in San Francisco, Chime is a leading U.S. provider of mobile banking services, helping clients save money automatically and avoid traditional fees. During the pandemic, Chime collaborated with its bank partners to make billions of dollars of stimulus money available to members up to five days earlier than traditional banks. The company also launched a new feature allowing users to enroll in unemployment benefits directly through the Chime app.

"Chime is a very passionate place, and each person who works here truly embodies our values," says one employee. "We all believe in our mission of giving our members financial peace of mind, and it shows each day at work."

In support of the local community, Chime donated $150,000 to Bay Area organizations helping individuals struggling with homelessness and food insecurity, and many company resource groups chose to donate their budgets to organizations assisting underrepresented groups throughout COVID-19.

In the photo: Chime has partnered with WeThrive, a national organization that encourages students to develop entrepreneurial skills and launch companies.

American Express

The financial services giant, based in New York City, realizes that unique perspectives, backgrounds and experiences are critical to the success of its colleagues and company, which led American Express to introduce a new Office of Enterprise Inclusion, Diversity and Business Engagement. This new group is responsible for intensifying the company's focus on driving long-term change in its culture and the way it operates

The company also pledged $3 million in grants to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the National Urban League and other People of Color-led organizations that support the Black/African American community.

"American Express is a place where diversity is celebrated, cherished and highly sought after," says one employee, "because the organization understands that to have a global perspective, it must thrive on the diversity of thought and innovation from all walks of life."

In the photo: As part of American Express's Serve2Gether volunteer program, team members prepare meals to be delivered to communities impacted by natural disasters.

Protiviti

This global consulting firm based in Menlo Park, Calif., wants to end food insecurity. In New York, the company partners with Meals on Wheels. In Amsterdam, Protiviti's team takes Friday morning shifts at the food bank. In Hong Kong, employees teamed up with a nonprofit that "rescues" surplus foods. In Tokyo, the team partners with Second Harvest Japan, the country's only nationwide food bank.

In 2014, Protiviti launched i on Hunger, an initiative committed to providing one million meals in one year. Since hitting that milestone—four months ahead of schedule—the work has continued and, to date, Protiviti has packed more than 11 million meals.

"I'm very proud that the firm has channeled its philanthropic focus to hunger relief, and so impressed by what we have collectively done to address hunger locally and globally," said Managing Director Gary Callaghan after a recent i on Hunger event in Metro D.C.

In the photo: Protiviti employees celebrate i on Hunger's 11 million-meal milestone.

Wellstar Health System

One of the largest healthcare systems in Georgia, Wellstar believes in enhancing the health and well-being of every person it serves. To support the specific needs of LGBTQ+ patients and families, Dr. Gabriella Maris of Wellstar Medical Group recently opened a new primary care family medicine practice, offering a non-biased, nonjudgmental setting.

"The LGBT+ community encounters multiple barriers to healthcare that their non-LGBT+ peers generally do not, which impacts their health and well-being," says Dr. Maris. "There is also a dearth of providers who have adequate training to understand and treat their unique health risks."

Wellstar's commitment to giving everyone the care they deserve extends to low-income and uninsured patients, via the company's Center for Health Equity. Wellstar invests more than $900 million annually in unreimbursed care for underserved Georgia residents—equaling 10 percent of all healthcare Wellstar provides.

In the photo: Nurses at Wellstar Cobb Hospital in Austell, Ga., show their spirit.

Twilio Inc.

Leading up to the 2020 election, Twilio—a cloud communications platform based in San Francisco—focused on driving voter participation and civic engagement. The company provided $400,000 in grant funding to organizations working to ensure safe and fair elections, specifically get-out-the-vote efforts in Black communities.

When the pandemic hit and the company went remote, Twilio offered employees $1,500 to make their work environment as productive and comfortable as possible. They also implemented "no-meeting" Fridays to prevent Zoom fatigue and offer employees weekly virtual yoga classes.

"Twilio cares about its employees," a staffer says. "The way our executives have handled COVID-19 quickly and efficiently gives me faith that good companies actually exist."

In the photo: As part of Twilio's Global Week of Service, employees volunteer at Planting Justice, a nonprofit benefiting Bay Area communities.

4imprint, Inc.

4imprint, which provides promotional products to companies and organizations, places emphasis on family—and that extends to the furriest members.

The company hosts biannual adoption visits with local shelters, even paying up to $100 in adoption fees if employees choose to take home a rescue pet. Associates whose pets pass away are given a bereavement day, and a donation is made to a local shelter in the late animal's memory.

4imprint also encourages employees to ride the "Give Back Bus," which drives to a mystery location where employees spend a day volunteering, while still being paid.

"Everyone is so friendly and seems so happy," says an employee. "Being here makes me want to be a better person."

In the photo: 4imprint employees help to get the Heckrodt Wetland Reserve in Menasha, Wisc., ready for spring planting.

CrowdStrike

When this global cybersecurity firm located in Sunnyvale, Calif., isn't working to prevent online threats and protect organizations, it's working to remind employees they're valued and appreciated.

In addition to flexible hours and monthly webinars to improve well-being, CrowdStrike offers employee resource groups (ERGs)—centering on a common race, cause, life situation, national origin or sexual orientation—that align with the company's organizational mission, values and goals. The company also celebrates Heroes Appreciation Week, a unique opportunity for employees and their families to send thank-you notes to organizations and charities in their community.

"It's really refreshing to work for a company where everyone is extremely nice," says one employee. "It's easy to tell our executives really care about their employees, which makes you want to work even harder. They've done a great job making sure we are taking care of ourselves and our families during these crazy times."

In the photo: CrowdStrike team members support Breast Cancer Awareness (in 2019) at company headquarters in Sunnyvale, Calif.

Northwell Health

New York State's largest healthcare provider—treating more than 2 million a year—selflessly worked on the frontlines of the COVID-19 crisis.

"Our team members were fighting for the lives of their patients all while trying to stay safe themselves," a team member says. "We never stopped caring for others and never gave up hope."

Northwell performed more than 1.5 million COVID tests, setting up dozens of centers for first responders and establishing others at more than 40 churches in Black and Latinx communities. The company also dispersed $490,000 to team members for essential services such as child care or mortgage or rent relief as part of their Northwell Caregiver Support Fund.

"There is a sense of family, of home," one employee says. "I live in this community, and after almost 30 years here I am always proud to be recognized as a [Northwell Health] nurse."

In the photo: Northwell Health associates and caregivers celebrated the discharge of COVID-19 patients by playing "Here Comes the Sun."

Intuit Inc.

In March 2020, when it became clear that work arrangements would be shifting for the foreseeable future, Intuit, a personal finance, tax and accounting software developer based in Mountain View, Calif., announced they would continue to pay the 900 onsite service providers—receptionists, cleaning crews, cafeteria workers and others—unable to perform their jobs remotely.

Intuit also expanded the application for our $1,000 Well-Being for Life benefit. Originally meant for expenses like gym memberships, exercise equipment and fitness classes, now team members can be reimbursed for any anything that improves their physical, emotional or financial well-being, from nannies to tutors to financial planning services.

"Intuit goes above and beyond offering employees every resource they need to be successful and feel more financially stable," says a team member. "These are benefits most companies don't even come close to offering. Intuit cares about their employees being well-rounded in every respect."

In the photo: Intuit employees celebrate returning to the office, a safe and inclusive environment where they can do their best work.

Orrick

This San Francisco-based global law firm traditionally serves technology and innovation, energy and infrastructure and finance sectors. But in the past year, social justice has become a company-wide priority.

Last June, the firm released a statement in support of Black Lives Matter, and Orrick chairman Mitch Zuklie announced the launch of five innovative fellowships focused on race, social and economic justice and equity. The fellowships enable experienced Orrick lawyers to step away from the firm at full pay to concentrate on issues of civil rights, criminal justice reform and economic equity.

The firm also showed its commitment to team members by offering a $1,000 tax-free wellness stipend to ensure no one has to choose between self-care and other essentials.

"Through all the challenges 2020 has brought, there's been one thing I, our lawyers and our clients could count on and that's you," said Zuklie in announcing the stipend.

In the photo: As part of Orrick Cares, the firm's community responsibility program, team members donate clothing, toys, books, and other essentials.

CarMax

For the third year in a row, CarMax, the nation's largest retailer of used cars, teamed up with the New England Patriots in donating new bikes to children of service members. At this year's drive-through event, bikes and helmets were presented to 47 children from the Natick Army Base in Massachusetts.

"Several kids personally thanked our associates, which was very meaningful," says Leslie Parpart, CarMax director of community relations. "And they also got a virtual meet and greet with players from the Patriots!"

Due to COVID, CarMax has been unable to send associates on team-building volunteer trips, but to fill the void, the company has donated more than $100,000 to local nonprofits to honor canceled events, and they've made $2.5 million in program grants unrestricted, so nonprofits can use the money as they see fit.

"Giving back is important to our culture because it's important to our associates," says CarMax CEO Bill Nash.

In the photo: CarMax associates have supported more than 80 playground builds through a partnership with KABOOM!, with eight more planned this year.

Blue Shield of California

There's a mental health crisis among California teens, and Blue Shield of California, a nonprofit healthcare organization based in Oakland, wants to remedy it.

Two years ago, the company launched BlueSky, a statewide initiative providing mental health resources for middle and high school students. The initiative places mental health clinicians in schools, trains teachers to look for signs of mental health issues and empowers students with support and resources. More than 2,500 counseling sessions have been conducted since the program was introduced.

Blue Shield of California was also among the first to support the Oakland COVID-19 Relief Fund, contributing $500,000 to establish urgently needed drive-through testing. Said Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf of the effort: "Blue Shield of California is dedicated to helping Oaklanders fight this virus and stay healthy. We appreciate their support to help us with vital testing and their leadership on other community initiatives."

In the photo: A Blue Shield of California employee volunteers at a local food bank in 2020.

Better.com

Better.com, a digital homeownership company values good mental health and personal growth, offering employees free weekly virtual therapy and professional development with a licensed therapist.

Since many of its 9,500+ staffers have young children—and have been working from home—the Manhattan-based Better.com launched a virtual child care program via Zoom called "Better Birds," with activities—from craft projects to magic shows—offered from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. It also offers flexible hours for parents with young kids, a $500 monthly allowance for lunches and a stipend to furnish home office setups.

"People here have a sense of ownership and engagement that is rare in the workplace," says an employee. "It makes a huge difference in how engaged everyone is. We feel like our contribution really matters."

In the photo: Members of the Better.com sales team meet virtually to make holiday gingerbread houses.

Premise Health

This healthcare company—headquartered in Brentwood, Tenn., and serving 11 million customers—places a premium on supporting the military. The company proudly employs 189 Veterans and 62 military spouses, and their military recruitment and retention program offers vets resources to support career development. They also host blood and supply drives each quarter to benefit the United Services Organization (USO).

But Premise's compassion doesn't stop there. When an EF3 tornado hit Nashville in 2020, affecting more than 70,000 people, Premise employees sprang into action, helping clear debris, collecting donations and assisting homeowners in searching for belongings.

"At Premise, we practice what we preach," says an employee. "We aim to help people get, stay, and be well. Our core values drive us more than the bottom line."

In the photo: Premise Health professionals are supporting clients in safely returning their employees to the workplace with COVID-19 testing and screening.

Dow

In May, after days of heavy rainfall, two dams breached north of Dow's global headquarters in Midland, Mich. Nearby homes and businesses flooded, and 11,000 people were evacuated in less than 12 hours.

Partnering with United Way of Midland County, Dow turned its corporate hangar into a distribution center, giving out cases of bottled water, food, cleaning supplies and personal care items. Dow also established eight flood relief centers in the area, and staffed them with employee volunteers who dedicated 7,000 volunteer hours in two weeks. The company also offered interest-free loans (up to $10,000 to help cover evacuation expenses like food, fuel and hotel rooms) to impacted employees.

"Dow is a great place to work," a team member says. "The 'give back' culture is something to be proud of."

In the photo: Dow employees dedicated 7,000 volunteer hours in the two weeks following a 500-year flood in the Great Lakes Bay Region.

Burlington Stores, Inc.

This leading national off-price retailer based in New Jersey is devoted to giving back to the community; the company partnered with the nonprofit Delivering Good and donated 170,000 items—from shoes to kitchen products and baby gear—worth more than $2.75 million. Burlington has also spent the past 18 years aiding the fight against blood cancer by partnering with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to raise more than $42 million.

For employees, Burlington offers a lifetime discount for those who retire in good standing. The Associate Assistance Fund also offers grants to team members whose homes have been damaged or destroyed in natural disasters. Burlington also allocates resources toward helping associates leave domestic violence situations or travel to the funeral of a family member.

"What keeps me at Burlington is the people I work with," says one employee. "We might just be coworkers, but we have each other's back—and that's a great thing."

In the photo: All hearts are welcome at Burlington, as demonstrated by an associate at a location in Philadelphia in January 2021.

JM Family Enterprises, Inc.

A diversified automotive company based in South Florida, JM Family Enterprises makes good on that name every day, taking care of employees and the community as if they were blood.

The company's commitment helped team member Rachele L. rebound after she lost their home in a fire. Within 24 hours, her work family rallied behind her, providing a $3,000 tax-free gift via the Associates Helping Associates program. "Being on the receiving end of [the program funding], it means a whole lot more to me," she says. "Words can't describe the relief."

Another example of the company's good nature: when Ed Sheehy, president of JM Family's subsidiary Southeast Toyota Distributors, challenged his team to raise $15,000 for Feeding America, he promised to dye his hair if they succeeded. When the dust settled, JM Family raised $229,000, and Sheehy emerged with a new bright teal 'do.

In the photo: JM Family Enterprises associates put their skills to work, donating more than 630 handmade masks.

Republic Services

When this Phoenix-based industry leader in recycling and environmental services isn't working to clean the planet, it's showing support to local businesses.

In February 2020, the Republic Services Charitable Foundation awarded 24 new National Promise grants for the year. The grants fund neighborhood revival projects around the country, from school renovations to home repairs for veterans and seniors to planting and landscaping in public spaces.

In response to the pandemic, Republic provided weekly meals, purchased from local restaurants, to its 28,000 frontline workers nationwide, as well as take-home family meals on Fridays. The company also distributed $100 gift cards biweekly, encouraging employees to use the cards at small businesses struggling during the economic downturn.

"I feel more valued here than anywhere I have worked," says a team member. "The entire company came together to make sure everyone was provided for."

In the photo: Republic Services employees and their families teamed up with Habitat for Humanity Quad Cities for National Neighborhood Promise Days.

Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants

Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants strives to spread kindness. When the pandemic shut down the chain of 60 boutique hotels and restaurants, the San Francisco-based company worked to make sure all employees were able to stay employed—even if that meant working somewhere else.

Partnering with companies who were ramping up hiring—Wegmans, Amazon, Home Depot and CVS—Kimpton helped furloughed employees bypass job interviews and get hired quickly.

"Kimpton truly goes to bat for its employees," a staffer says. "They quickly went into overdrive to ensure that the teams across the country were taken care of."

What's more, executives helped employees update their LinkedIn profiles and resumes and provided job interview tips. Leadership coordinated with state unemployment agencies to help laid-off team members apply for unemployment immediately, while assisting team members in tapping into loans and other funds.

In the photo: Team members at the Kimpton Gray Hotel invented a "concierge cocktail" to raise money for the Chicago Hotel Concierge Assistance Fund.

Cox Enterprises Inc.

Cox Enterprises, which specializes in telecommunications and transportation via broadband applications, is, in the word of one employee, "in tune with the community it serves."

To prove its commitment to inclusion, the Atlanta-based Cox Enterprises has established a $1 million fund disbursed to the Equal Justice Initiative, United Negro College Fund, National Urban League, National Center for Civil and Human Rights and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Action. They have also committed to supporting the Ad Council's Racial Equity campaign with $1 million in donated advertising time on Cox Communications' network.

"Cox is a very generous company who many times have gone over and above in their quest to look after their employees and customers," says another team member. "I am truly proud to work for a company that not only values their employees, but their customers and the community as well."

In the photo: For Cox Enterprises, doing the right thing for the environment and their community is at the core of who they are.

Progressive Insurance

A leading home and auto insurance company headquartered in Mayfield Village, Ohio, Progressive has made a significant financial impact on their community and beyond, delivering $8 million in donations to charities like Feeding America, the American Red Cross and the National Alliance to End Homelessness through the Progressive Insurance Foundation.

The company has also prioritized the well-being of its 44,000+ employees and encouraged them to look out for one another in the same spirit. With the pandemic upending work and childcare arrangements, the company provided additional paid time off to those in need and allowed employees to donate vacation days to their colleagues.

"Progressive truly 'walks the walk,'" says one employee. "If you need to take a few days off for your mental health, you come back to your work completed and are applauded for taking care of yourself."

In the photo: Progressive honors a veteran with a vehicle donation as part of the Keys to Progress giveaway program in November 2020.

RSM US LLP

The nation's leading provider of audit, tax and consulting services focused on the middle market, this Chicago-based company found a unique way to offer assistance to employees and local businesses as the pandemic surged in March and April 2020: RSM allowed all employees to expense $50 per week for groceries or carryout. Unused funds were donated to food banks in the U.S. and Canada, resulting in $4.7 million worth of meals for team members and the community at large.

Also central to the RSM mission: a commitment to mental health, as demonstrated by Modern Health, a digital platform launched in the fall of 2020 that outfits employees and their families with personalized resources, one-on-one counseling and more.

Says one employee: "I'm blessed to be part of the RSM family, and they make sure to let me know they also appreciate having me. It's a fantastic culture to be immersed in."

In the photo: RSM fill backpacks for students at Richard Green Elementary School in Minneapolis on RSM Volunteer Day.

HP Inc.

In response to shifting educational needs during the pandemic, HP Inc.—a Palo Alto-based global provider of personal computing and other access devices, imaging and printing products, and related technologies—launched "HP Refresh," a program designed to crowdsource computer donations to schools.

In addition, HP Inc. partnered with TIME for Kids, NASA and Britannica on "Turn to Learn," a program to help Title 1 and underserved school districts across the U.S. More than 25,000 printed packets have been distributed to help address the "homework gap."

"People here genuinely care about each other, says an HP employee. "Everyone naturally tries to do the right thing. You don't feel any 'Us vs. Them' with management. We play the roles we need to get the job done, and anyone can become a leader when needed."

In the photo: More than 370 employees collected more than 3,400 pounds of plastic and trash for HP's Global Shoreline Cleanup 2021.

Acxiom LLC

A leader in custom data management, identity and ethical use of data for more than 50 years, Acxiom is passionate about helping young people find their calling in a STEM career field. To that end, the Conway, Arkansas-based company has invested heavily in their state's Boys and Girls Clubs to introduce young people to valuable STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) curriculum.

Acxiom has also partnered with the Women's Foundation of Arkansas to promote the Girls of Promise STEM initiative, which encourages young women to finish high school and further their studies in science and tech fields through post-secondary education. The company also awards an annual diversity scholarship available to women, minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities who are pursuing technological studies.

"Impeccable" is how one employee describes the company's overall commitment to marginalized groups. "Acxiom lives and breathes diversity and inclusion."

In the photo: Acxiom employees volunteer at a meal program for students, seniors and families affected by COVID-19 in Pulaski County, Ark.

Splunk Inc.

Splunk, a cloud-based "data-to-everything" platform based in San Francisco, is using its analytics expertise for good. Through Splunk Ventures Social Impact Fund, the company has partnered with Zonehaven to reduce wildfire risk, improve evacuations and protect fire departments and emergency response teams.

The company's corporate social impact program, Splunk for Good, is helping to combat human trafficking with partners like the Global Emancipation Network. To date, Splunk has assisted in identifying more than 989 human traffickers and victims.

And Splunk demonstrates its commitment to nurturing from within through its growing Employee Resource Groups, an ecosystem that uplifts employees from all walks of life and celebrates diversity. "This is a company that is genuinely concerned about its employees, both in and out of the work environment," says one Splunker.

In the photo: Splunk Inc. chief product officer Sendur Sellakumar participates in a Black History panel at a BEAMs (Black Employees and Mentors) ERG event.

Experian

Despite its 5,000+ team members, the world's leading global information services company has maintained a commitment to employee well-being and personal support in difficult times, offering increased sick-time benefits and flexible hours.

Also in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Experian launched its "Volunteer for Small Acts of Goodness" campaign, to inspire and assist employees in supporting their communities. When all employees at Experian's Costa Mesa, California headquarters transitioned to remote work, the company funded the supplies and payroll to keep all cafeteria workers employed, and last June, those workers prepared more than 150 boxed lunches each weekday for donation to Grandma's House of Hope, a local shelter.

"We care about a lot of things," says an Experian employee. "The people we work with, the people we serve, our community—I am very proud of our stance on so many issues."

In the photo: Experian's Military, Veterans and Patriots ERG build a wheelchair ramp to support a veteran in need.

Navy Federal Credit Union

Navy Federal Credit Union serves over 9.4 million members of the military and their families, offering a broad range of financial products and services and—in the words of one employee—a "do the right thing" ethos permeates the corporate culture and guides decision-making.

At the height of the pandemic, this meant going the extra mile to assist members impacted by job and income loss—offering relief loans, extensions, deferred payments and credit limit increases.

Before the pandemic, the company brought together more than 3,000 employees to volunteer directly and virtually to promote reading through its Book Buddy programs in Pensacola, Florida, and Winchester and Vienna, Virginia.

"Three of the boys from my class actually got together and read over the weekend instead of playing video games," says Tammie McGill, a teacher at James Wood Middle School in Winchester, of the impact the company's volunteers had on her students.

In the photo: Navy Federal Credit Union's branch located on Naval Support Activit (NSA) Bahrain received the Department of the Navy's Distinguished Credit Union Service Award.

SAP America

When more than 124,000 schools across the U.S. closed due to the pandemic, SAP America, the market leader in enterprise application software, realized the shutdown would be especially hard on the estimated 30 million young people who depend on daily school meals. Together with partner GENYOUth, the company launched the SAP4Kids Program, which has helped connect food-insecure families to 30,000 feeding sites across all 50 states—in large part due to the volunteer efforts of SAP employees.

"We are extremely blessed to work for a company that cares about its employees and their communities," says employee and SAP4Kids lead Sara Marshall. "It's an amazing opportunity to be able to give back and a great reminder of what's possible when we get together for a common cause that crosses all divides."

In the photo: These SAP employees volunteer together quarterly to support local organizations in the Philadelphia area.

Brightview Senior Living

As the operator of senior living communities in eight states, Brightview Senior Living specializes in giving love and support to those who need it most, and the Baltimore, Maryland-based company has made good on that commitment in all-new ways in the past year.

Brightview opened a free food pantry so associates could feed their families and avoid trips to the supermarket; the company instituted a "hero pay" program, which included an increased hourly rate for every single frontline associate; and they invested millions in the sourcing and procurement of PPE so team members and residents could feel as safe as possible.

"They are extremely understanding and relatable," one employee says of management at Brightview Senior Living. "I feel comfortable asking for help or expressing a concern I may have. They truly go above and beyond for not only the residents, but also the employees."

In the photo: Brightview Senior Living community sale directors handed out gift baskets in honor of Ladies Day, a 125-year tradition at the Devon Horse Show in Devon, Penn.

SAS Institute Inc.

SAS, a worldwide leader in data analytics based in Cary, NC, prioritizes happy, healthy employees who lead well-rounded lives, and—in an effort to assist team members in striking a sustainable work-life balance—offers an onsite healthcare center. The center is staffed with physicians, nurses, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals, and associates are encouraged to visit during work hours to address their concerns and maximize their time.

In the wake of the pandemic, the staff at SAS's recreation and fitness center committed themselves to supporting members remotely, through online exercise classes, virtual meditation and virtual camps and creative at-home activities for families.

"From the beginning of this crisis I feel like I've been enveloped in a great big hug of SAS support," says one employee. "And, in turn, I can envelop our customers and communities with support. I am so proud of us."

In the photo: SAS prioritizes sustainability initiatives like solar farms, free electric vehicle charging and office beehives.

KPMG LLP

Big Four accounting firm KPMG LLP has divided its COVID-19 relief efforts into four key areas, pledging via its foundation more than $2 million in support of nonprofits benefiting front line workers, students, food-insecure seniors and research efforts to find a cure—the last in the form of a $100,000 grant to the National Institutes of Health.

But the company's giving hasn't stopped there. In an effort to take care of all employees, KPMG has expanded its network of discounted childcare centers nationwide, broadened its work-life coaching options, introduced online mindfulness resources and increased free counseling. In addition, the company has enhanced its sabbatical program, increasing pay to 30% of employee base salary.

"The professional development and training opportunities at KPMG are also incredible," says one employee. "The firm believes in investing in its people, and this is reflected in the excellent service we provide to our clients."

In the photo: KPMG professionals volunteer at a book distribution event as part of the KPMG Family for Literacy Program.

Jamf

Minneapolis-based cloud software company Jamf configures and automates the Apple experience for the workplace, and as a company of free thinkers and problem solvers, employees found an especially creative way to spend their 16 hours of volunteer time off last year.

Natural disasters displace millions of people each year, and many of the affected areas are unmapped—making response and rescue efforts extremely difficult. Jamf employees set out to fill in those gaps for future humanitarian efforts, tracing more than 8,600 buildings in areas that are literally missing from maps.

"There is a strong emphasis on being a good human being, and pushing yourself to improve," says a Jamf employee. "It is in the DNA of the company. The company really believes in this, and it shows."

In the photo: Jamf sent all employees care packages, including masks, apparel, coffee mugs and snacks, during pandemic work-from-home.

Liberty Mutual Insurance

In addition to investing heavily in diversity and inclusion and employee well-being, the Boston-based global insurance provider has made operational conservation a core value.

Six of Liberty Mutual's U.S. offices are now certified to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, along with another eight Energy Star certifications. The company's Northeast U.S. office buildings and data centers can source up to 100% hydroelectric power, while the campus in Plano, TX, can meet up to 100% of its energy needs through wind. And that commitment to the environment extends to recycling and conservation efforts—recycling an estimated 2,800 tons of paper in recent years and moving steadily toward paperless operations.

"The company is active and focused on making this a company for all," says an employee. "I am extremely proud to work for Liberty Mutual."

In the photo: Employee volunteers and their families virtually participated in the 2020 Sweet Cases campaign, decorating and filling 12,000 duffel bags for children in foster care.

IBM

Last April, IBM's World Community Grid "volunteer computing" platform began working with Scripps Research to host a public volunteerism project searching for chemical compounds that might be useful in COVID-19 treatments. The World Community Grid—which allows anyone with a computer and an internet connection to donate their device's computing power—became an important virtual screening and molecular modeling hub, enabling the identification of 70 compounds of interest.

But the Armonk, NY-based global leader in hybrid cloud and AI solutions did more than lend their computing power—IBM employees donated food and PPE to hospitals in Wuhan, China, and created a virtual camp for children with serious illnesses in Hungary.

And as team members adjusted to remote work, CEO Arvind Krishna introduced the IBM Work from Home Pledge, including the directives "I pledge to be family first," "I pledge to take care of myself" and "I pledge to frequently check in on people."

In the photo: IBM provided consumers and businesses free technology to track COVID-19 cases on a state and county level.

Bank Leumi USA

Bank Leumi conducts business globally, but the New York City-based financial institution strives to treat its employees and customers like family. A large part of the company culture is encouraging team members to connect and bond through fun and service. Pre-pandemic, this took the form of Lunch Roulette and Coffee Roulette, where employees were paired randomly to make personal connections, the Leumi Olympics and a Casino Night. Since the pandemic, Bank Leumi has staged weekly virtual trivia nights and launched a giving back campaign to feed frontline workers and virtually visit nursing home residents.

"Bank Leumi is a home away from home where people work together to achieve mutual goals and senior management takes great pains to communicate with and take care of all employees," says a team member. "I feel supported and encouraged by my company and am proud to be a part of such a solid caring institution."

In the photo: In April 2020, Leumi teammates delivered pizza to frontline workers at a nursing home in Chicago.

Horizon Therapeutics

The biopharmaceutical company, headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, believes science and compassion must work together to transform lives and uses as a guiding principle the personal motto of CEO Tim Walbert: "Do the right thing."

For Horizon, that has meant $500,000 in recent donations to organizations like the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the National Urban League and others addressing racial inequality.

"It's important for us to stand up in solidarity with our Black colleagues," says Walbert, "and learn from this moment, act and not be the company that waits to see what everyone else does."

Other examples of Horizon's culture of compassion: In 2020, employees volunteered their time and financial resources to build 200 water filtration systems that provided a village in Uganda with clean drinking water, and last July the company awarded $130,000 in scholarships to dependents of Horizon employees.

In the photo: Each year, Horizon employees raise funds and donate items to ensure students in transitional housing situations have the supplies they need.

Box, Inc.

A leading cloud content management platform based in Redwood City, Calif., Box has devoted significant time and resources to community building, social justice initiatives and employee support during the pandemic.

To keep employees feeling connected and to recognize their efforts, Box launched a series of weekly virtual Community Corner events, with classes ranging from jiu-jitsu to cooking to hip hop dance. The company also launched an employee-led grassroots allyship program in an effort to promote racial justice and donated $250,000 to nonprofits dedicated to social justice and other crucial causes.

"The investment in our culture is second to none," says one staffer. "At Box, it goes beyond just a work culture—the company is incredibly invested in fostering a real sense of community and celebrating all aspects of the diverse and talented group of people we have working here."

In the photo: Box engineering team members at a volunteer event in February 2020.

First American Financial Corporation

For more than 130 years, First American has fostered a culture that encourages volunteerism and support, with core causes of community development, human services and women's advocacy. The Santa Ana, Calif.-based title insurance provider's workforce is 70% female, and the company advocates on their behalf in the areas of breast cancer, heart health and other wellness initiatives throughout the year.

To support Feeding America, First American organized a coast-to-coast virtual relay race, in which more than 100 employees ran or walked over 400 miles. And when the pandemic further increased urgency, the company donated $10,000 to purchase food and fund food banks across the U.S. Team members followed suit, raising and donating another $27,000 to Feeding America's COVID-19 Response Fund.

In the photo: In February 2020, First American employees from across the country gathered to run over 200 miles in support of women's heart health.

The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the food service industry particularly hard, but the experiential chain—headquartered in Calabasas Hills, Calif. and operating 294 restaurants throughout the U.S. and Canada—found meaningful ways to protect its employees and community.

The company has donated 25,500 meals to healthcare workers across the country, and in 2020, The Cheesecake Factory's Nourish Program donated more than 550,000 lbs. of excess food to more than 500 nonprofits and food banks.

The company also provided free daily meals to every staff member and offered extended benefits to furloughed employees. Says one Cheesecake Factory employee: "When the pandemic hit, my managers called me to let me know I qualified for free meals and could apply for unemployment. It really made a difference—and saved me from some rough times."

In the photo: A Cheesecake Factory employee carries bags of food donated as part of the company's Nourish Program.

Southern Ohio Medical Center

When the pandemic led to reduced employee hours and furloughs, the community hospital located in Portsmouth, Ohio, got creative with the creation of a Labor Pool, reassigning workers to new and essential tasks like PPE delivery, entrance temperature checks and face shield production. These new assignments were compensated at employees' regular pay rate.

And when area nursing homes suffered COVID-19 outbreaks, Southern Ohio Medical Center stepped in to help, leading educational sessions, assisting FEMA in locating and delivering PPE and placing nurse practitioners in facilities to help staff treat elderly patients.

Said one nursing home administrator of Southern Ohio's efforts: "We could not have made it without SOMC. [Many] residents would have died if you had not been here."

In the photo: A Southern Ohio Medical Center registrar shows off a gift card received from SOMC Development Foundation Feed-the-Frontline program.

Bell Bank

One of the nation's fastest-growing family- and employee-owned financial institutions, Bell Bank, headquartered in Fargo, ND, empowers its associates to look out for their communities.

Since 2008, Bell Bank's Pay It Forward initiative has given every full-time employee $1,000 and every part-time employee $500 annually to donate to a cause of their choice. Last year, in response to growing needs during the pandemic, Bell Bank CEO Michael Solberg announced those amounts would double. To date, Bell Bank's employee-led charitable giving has topped $16 million.

The Pay It Forward program is unique and impactful," says a Bell Bank employee. "[This is] the one place I have worked that has a true family atmosphere, where almost everyone is willing to go above and beyond to serve our customers, referral partners and the community."

In the photo: Bell Bank associates participate in the Bell Value Awards Celebration pre-pandemic.

Slalom Consulting

Last year, in the wake of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor's deaths, Slalom CEO Brad Jackson made clear the official position of the Seattle-based modern consulting firm.

"At Slalom, Black Lives Matter. Period. We can no longer be silent about Black lives stolen by racist violence," he said. "We all need to open our hearts and use our voices, but most importantly we need to listen, learn, and act."

The firm, which specializes in strategy, technology and business transformation, backed up that statement, launching "Slalom Presents," a thought leadership series that has featured prominent Black voices like Civil Rights icon Ruby Bridges. Slalom also launched its Action Against Racism community, which now has over 800 members, and introduced a Social Equity Initiative, which has pledged $1 million to fighting inequality and eliminating economic and educational disparities in the Black community.

In the photo: Slalom Consulting employees have some fun at a virtual Bring Your Kids to Work Day.

PeopleTec, Inc.

Providing technical expertise in diversified engineering, modeling and simulation, cyber security and rapid prototyping, this Huntsville, AL-based small business used its 3D printers to supplement the supply of face shields for frontline workers throughout the Tennessee Valley. As part of the pandemic effort, PeopleTec's Technical Fellows—employees with internal research and development funding to use at their discretion—came to the aid of Arc of Madison County, an advocacy organization providing services to adults and children with disabilities.

Recognizing the need for millennial representation within the company, PeopleTec launched the Next Generation Innovators (NGI) program to provide employees under 35 with a direct path to leadership. As part of the program, senior-level volunteers mentor NGI members on various topics, from ethics to business development to team-building.

"Our leadership truly cares about the overall well-being of our employees, at work and at home, mentally, physically and emotionally," says an employee.

In the photo: PeopleTec's IT team has risen to the challenge of ensuring a seamless transition from onsite to remote work.

Asurion

In March, when a series of tornadoes hit the Middle Tennessee area, leading to widespread destruction and loss of life, Asurion, a global technology solutions company based in Nashville, sprang into action. After ensuring all employees were safe and accounted for, the company offered assistance through its Compassion Fund to those who suffered home and property damage.

Asurion also reached out to the community. At disaster relief stations, the company offered free mobile charging stations, distributed water and snacks, and donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross of Tennessee to directly support those impacted by the storms. That same month, as COVID-19 further upended lives and livelihoods, Asurion launched an employee assistance program through Lyra Health to provide support for anxiety, stress and depression.

"The amount of resources [Asurion] dedicates to taking care of its employees on every level—mental, physical, financial, developmental—is unparalleled," says one employee.

In the photo: Asurion associates deliver baskets of snacks for Nurses Appreciation Week in May 2020.

Zillow Group

When Seattle-headquartered real estate company Zillow shifted to work-from-home in spring of 2020, corporate leadership prioritized the safety, comfort and well-being of its 6,000+ employees.

To alleviate remote work expenses, all employees received a $200 tech reimbursement and a $40 monthly home internet expense reimbursement. Zillow also created a Caregiver Relief Program, offering flexible hours, backup childcare through Bright Horizons and reduced schedules. Additionally, in July, Zillow announced that, for 90% of the Zillow team, working remotely would be an ongoing option so employees can work where they're most productive—at home, in office or a combination of both.

"There is recognition for being a part of special company initiatives," says one team member. "Gifts sent to all employees to remind us to take care of ourselves and so many other examples of even small things done to make us feel special and part of the bigger picture."

In the photo: Zillow Group members connect on Zoom. Zillow has introduced a flexible work-from-home policy, allowing most employees to continue remote work indefinitely.

Robert Half

Talent solutions professionals at Robert Half connect businesses with talented job seekers, and that ability to understand how companies and employees succeed together also helps the San Ramon-based firm optimize its own operations.

Last year, President and CEO Keith Waddell and President and CEO of Talent Solutions Paul Gentzkow signed the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion Pledge, and the company has followed up with plans to strengthen strategic partnerships with groups that support racial equality and educational opportunities—including the National Association of Black Accountants and the National Society of Black Engineers—and launching Employee Network Groups to provide connection and resources for minority groups in the workplace.

"We have celebrations," says a Robert Half associate. "And not just for birthdays—we celebrate people, history, holidays, and [other opportunities] to say 'thank you.' That's a good way to make people feel special."

In the photo: Robert Half's South Bay team cleans up local beaches in their community in August 2020.

American Fidelity Assurance Company

American Fidelity—an Oklahoma City-based supplemental benefits provider for more than one million customers—makes community support a way of life for its nearly 2,000 team members. Two years ago, the company started a grant program where employee volunteers earn $10/hr. for the organizations to which they lend their time. If an employee serves on a board of a nonprofit, American Fidelity contributes $1,000/yr. to that organization.

"I'm proud of our community involvement," says an employee. "Our company prioritizes serving our community. American Fidelity actively seeks new and unique ways to give back."

One of their latest efforts: Adapting a popular children's literacy program in the wake of COVID-19. Partnering with the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder, American Fidelity helped adapt the old program—involving a reading bus visiting local schools—into an online format that rewards kids for logging reading minutes.

In the photo: An American Fidelity employee packs a donation box to be delivered to a local nonprofit.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

The global audit, tax and consulting giant leads with its purpose and values. Corporate leadership credits a culture of flexibility with preparing PwC to protect its employees while also continuing to address client concerns and community needs.

Through Skills for Society, a pro bono program, PwC gives all employees a week of paid time each year to use their talents to address social injustice through projects, workshops, board seat service, mentoring and other skill-based volunteering—what amounts to 2.2 million hours of annual support. PwC also introduced a leave-of-absence program, allowing employees who need to take up to six months off to tend to themselves and their families to still receive 20% pay.

"The focus has been to keep employees safe and give them the time they need to take care of their personal matters and family during these trying times, says a PwC employee.

In the photo: PwC team members volunteer at the Bowery Mission in New York City.

Farmers Insurance

One of the country's largest insurers of homes, automobiles and small businesses, Farmers, based in Woodland Hills, Calif. has committed itself to looking out for one of the largest professional demographics in the United States—working parents. In January 2020, Farmers introduced Paid Parental Leave, a program that offers 10 weeks of 100% paid leave to eligible employees who become parents through birth, surrogacy, non-family legal adoption or legal adoption placement, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.

As part of the company's environmental efforts, Farmers Insurance has set goals to eliminate single-use plastic and reduce internal, non-regulatory paper consumption by 80%, and to rally support, Farmers has established 19 "Go Green" chapters, with more than 500 employees promoting green initiatives throughout the year.

"The open-door policy here is not just words," says one employee. "Communication is solicited and they listen and respond."

In the photo: A Farmers employee volunteers at a Boys & Girls Club - Grand Rapids Youth Commonwealth event on April 9, 2019.

DICK'S Sporting Goods

To increase athletic opportunities for girls, DICK'S, a sporting goods retail chain, launched a new partnership with the United States Women's Soccer Foundation, with the DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation donating $5 million to support the United for Girls initiative.

In addition, the Coraopolis, Penn.-based chain has made $12.5 million in donations to the Black Economic Development Fund to support Black entrepreneurs and communities and enable increased access to capital.

"The coworkers are more like family and the level of service we provide for our community is apparent," says an employee. "DICK'S is such an important part of my life and allows me to be happy inside and outside of work."

In the photo: DICK'S provided 15,000 pieces of equipment to youth athletes on an eight-city tour as part of its Celebrate Girls in Sports initiative.

AbbVie

AbbVie, a global research and development-based biopharmaceutical company, supports its employees' family life with free background checks for caregivers, five hours a month of tutoring for kids from kindergarten through college and college coaching for high school students.

The North Chicago-based AbbVie also supports the community, last year announcing a $35 million donation to medical aid and food distribution organizations helping underserved communities in the U.S. and Europe deal with the pandemic. It has also donated $5 million to racial justice groups and committed another $50 over the next five years to impact education, jobs, healthcare and justice issues.

"AbbVie supports the community in a way I've never seen before, and it feels wonderful to be a part of a company that cares so much," says an employee.

In the photo: More than 500 AbbVie employees volunteered at the Lake County (IL) Fairgrounds mass vaccination site in February.

American Savings Bank F.S.B.

At the Honolulu, Hawaii-based American Savings Bank, its employees—essential workers who had to report through the pandemic—received full salaries despite reduced hours.

The bank has a diverse workforce of 88 percent minorities and offers new employees an "Aloha State of Mind" class to acquaint them with Hawaii's unique culture. They value giving back, and last year, staffers contributed 23,000 volunteer hours to community organizations while donating more than $1.3 million to five partner nonprofits through the company's Kahiau Giving Campaign, with 97 percent employee participation.

"As someone who benefited directly from one of our partner nonprofits (Kapiolani Health Foundation) when I gave birth to my quintuplets, I experienced firsthand the incredible impact ASB has on the community," says Marcie Dela Cruz, Learning Operations Manager. "It's inspiring to work for a company that is truly committed to making our world a better place."

In the photo: Only July 8, American Savings Bank donated $100,000 to the Girls Scouts of Hawaii to support their STEM Center for Excellence.

HubSpot

HubSpot, a Cambridge, Mass.-headquartered software and technology company, values keeping employees healthy, with free virtual guided meditation, yoga and weekly Wednesday live workouts with a Barry's Bootcamp trainer.

To help ensure a supportive culture at HubSpot, its Global Culture Team of over 30 employees run activities including family and charity events. Additionally, diversity and inclusion are valued—the company offers staffers and management a full course on anti-racism and has a long-term commitment to recruit people of color.

"I have worked at many top companies, including Goldman Sachs and Disney, and without hesitation can say that HubSpot has a truly unique culture that has more than earned my loyalty and appreciation," says an employee.

In the photo: Celeste Narganes, HubSpot's Director of Diversity, works remotely with her children close by.

Perkins Coie LLP

Lawyers and staff with Perkins Coie—an international law firm with offices across the United States and Asia —receive generous benefits, including no-cost medical and dental insurance, free counseling sessions and support managing stress, anxiety and addictions.

The Manhattan-based firm also provides a paid sabbatical program of eight weeks at full pay.

"This company truly cares about each and every person that works for it," says a staffer. "Management wants everyone, no matter their individual circumstances, to be successful in their life and their career, and they go out of their way to make sure that people have work-life balance and enjoy what they do for a living. I wouldn't want to work anywhere else."

In the photo: Phoenix associate Drew Kuettel poses with pro bono client Claudia Serna on June 16, 2021. Kuettel fought for 28 months to help Serna obtain U.S. citizenship.