Through First Data's global matching gifts program and support for community volunteerism, our employees and First Data made a $2 million charitable impact and volunteered more than 25,000 hours to support charitable organizations in 2009. 

Employee Volunteerism

In June 2009, seven employees from First Data’s Basildon site in the UK took advantage of the company’s volunteer time-off program to support Mind, leading UK mental health charity that focuses on improving the lives of those affected by mental distress. The team spent the day redecorating rooms at one of the charity’s nearby drop-in centers. To date, more than 50 UK-based employees have participated in volunteer work, providing valued practical support to charitable organizations, hospices and primary schools in the local area.

Gift Matching

The First Data Foundation’s Matching Gifts Program provides First Data the opportunity to join with its employees around the world to improve the communities where our employees live and work. The program doubles the impact of employee donations – up to $5,000 per person per year – to their favorite charities through a dollar-for-dollar match. Over 1,500 charitable organizations benefit from our employees’ generosity each year.

“First Data’s gift matching program demonstrates the company’s commitment to our global community and gives us the opportunity to make a greater impact by directing funds to the organizations that we as employees choose to support. For me, Greece’s World Wildlife Fund (WWF*) is an effective organization working on solutions to environmental issues with consistency and passion, and I am very happy to support their efforts.”

–George Drimiotis, SVP, Greece and Southeastern Europe, First Data

*WWF-Greece, an affiliate of WWF International, works with governments, local communities, international organizations and businesses on issues related to conservation, research and restoration of the environment.

Donations-for-Doers

First Data’s employees dedicate thousands of hours to their communities each year to make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate. To recognize and reward an employees’ charitable commitment of time and talent, the First Data Foundation’s Donations-for-Doers program provides a $500 donation to any eligible non-profit organization where an employee volunteers at least 50 hours in a calendar year, up to an annual maximum of $1,000 per employee per year.

“Mentoring a child in foster care through the Education and Assistance Corporation* has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. I have had the opportunity to see my mentee mature and achieve her goals through the years. It’s a good feeling to know First Data recognizes and encourages my volunteerism efforts by providing monetary grants to the organizations I care about most.”

–Debbie Stellakis, Director, RSA Sales Operations, Melville, NY, First Data

*Established in 1969, the Education and Assistance Corporation (EAC) empowers people to take control of their lives and become contributing members of their communities by providing treatment and family social services for drug and alcohol addicts, abused or neglected children and senior citizens in the New York metropolitan area.