(BPT) - If you've ever wondered what a committed group of people could accomplish in one month, wonder no more: During T-Mobile's third annual Magenta Giving Month, employees dedicated themselves to giving back to the causes they care most about - making a bigger impact than ever before. Many employees also rolled up their sleeves throughout the month, donating blood, packing meals for local foodbanks, planting trees and/or volunteering together at coast-to-coast events.
In four short weeks, T-Mobile and its employees rallied together to support local communities across the country, with:
- $3.3 million donated to causes that matter - through employee giving, T-Mobile Foundation matches, in-kind support and more.
- 27,327 volunteer hours given by over 4,000 passionate employees nationwide.
- 875 units of blood donated - helping potentially more than 2,000 lives.
- 10,000 meals packed for Harvesters and 28,000 pounds of food sorted for Atlanta Community Food Bank and Food Lifeline.
- 11,760 STEM kits assembled for Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
- 150 trees planted in partnership with The Arbor Day Foundation.
- 79 Volun-T Grants awarded totaling $393,000 to support employees' chosen causes including education, healthcare initiatives and environmental conservation.
Magenta Giving Month also kicked off with every T-Mobile employee receiving a $30 donation credit from the T-Mobile Foundation to support a nonprofit of their choice. The total donation dollars collected was $1,082,472 and shared amongst 9,867 nonprofits.
"Every year, this moment is about more than just volunteering," said Mike Katz, president of Marketing, Strategy and Products at T-Mobile and this year's Magenta Giving Month executive co-sponsor. "It's about coming together as One Team, Together to make a real impact in our communities."
Combined with previous years, T-Mobile's annual giving campaign has become a force for good, raising over $8 million to support communities across the country and making an impact through volunteering.
Saving lives
T-Mobile once again teamed up with the American Red Cross and seven other blood collection organizations by hosting 33 blood drives.
"In the U.S., someone needs blood every two seconds," said Mario Brown, national partnerships manager at American Red Cross. "Last year, T-Mobile collected 454 units with us - potentially helping 1,362 people."
This year was even more impactful, with T-Mobile collecting 693 units of blood, potentially saving up to 2,079 lives. Combined with other blood drive partners, the company helped collect 875 total units.
Fighting hunger
At a time when rising prices affect families across the country, multiple volunteer efforts worked to provide food for communities. For example, employee volunteers sorted nearly 17,000 pounds of food - enough to serve over 14,000 meals - for the Atlanta Community Food Bank.
"Roughly one in nine Georgians are food insecure, and one in six children in our 29-county area," said Ben Burgess, corporate relations manager for the Atlanta Community Food Bank. "We've seen the need grow almost 60% in the last three years."
Another event held at T-Mobile's Overland Park, Kansas, headquarters packed 10,000 sack lunches for Harvesters, a regional food bank serving Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri.
"The Give Lunch bags that T-Mobile is providing help tremendously," said Paula Pratt, director of Community Engagement for Harvesters. "Many are distributed through our Food+ Program, at libraries, bus stops, healthcare facilities and other places people go to find help, like pantries and summer feeding programs."
Inspiring kids
T-Mobile employees also partnered with Boys & Girls Clubs to build thousands of STEM kits nationwide. In Overland Park, employees packed 4,480 STEM kits, while Bellevue, Washington, added another 4,200 kits. In Frisco, Texas, employees packed 2,240 kits, plus another 840 kits packed in Herndon, Virginia.
"These kits provide hands-on learning experiences that help kids build problem-solving skills and spark interest in STEM," said Jules Pollack, director of development for Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue. "The energy during these events has been incredible."
The T-Mobile Foundation also provided each partner organization with cash from a 2:1 match on volunteer hours, adding up to $601K. For just one example, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City received almost $13K in addition to the STEM kits.
The joy of giving
The response from employees and organizations alike reflected the company culture of giving back and belonging - one where everyone feels part of something bigger and inspired to make a difference. It also helped that some events were sheer fun - like meeting the pack of irresistibly adoptable pups visiting T-Mobile employees for an event with P.A.W.S. Progressive Animal Welfare Society for a chance to take home new furry family members.
"I was honored to host PAWS at our Bellevue HQ for our second annual adoption event," said Janice Kapner, chief communications and corporate responsibility officer and executive vice president, T-Mobile U.S. "This year, we saw all 11 dogs get adopted within three days."
Magenta Giving Month made one thing clear: T-Mobile's commitment to using its network, scale and resources for good is unwavering - empowering employees to come together and make a meaningful difference in communities across the country. Learn more about Magenta Giving Month at T-Mobile.com.