Our Community Volunteerism and Charities
Across the United States and around the world,
Pearson Government Solutions employees are extremely giving of their
time and money to help community organizations, non-profit groups
and local charitable events. As a company, Pearson is No. 15th on
the 2005 Giving List, which ranks the FTSE 100 according to the
percentage of pre-tax profits we gave to the community.
Worldwide Effort
In the weeks following Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita, Pearson colleagues showed overwhelming response and generosity
with their time, support and donations. Because of the tremendous
outpouring of concern for those affected, the
Pearson Disaster Relief Fund was created to collect and
distribute an estimated $1 million in contributions to various
organizations. A large part of the Fund supports three Pearson
e-buses traveling in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi which are
outfitted with computers, digital curriculum, as well as Penguin
books for the children to take back with them to their shelters or
temporary homes. Districts across the states are responding
positively to the e-buses which are also helping displaced students
continue their education and maintain their grade level status.
Pearson Government Solutions employees have
volunteered in various ways, including donating the services of 100
professional to assist the Department of Health and Human Services
with answering calls from health care professionals and relief
personnel; providing 3,500 meals for American Red Cross volunteers
at a local Emergency Response Center; working in coordination with
FEMA to organize and deliver immediate relief supplies; and
participating for a local on-air fundraiser, among other volunteer
and fundraising activities.
The Tsunami natural disaster brought the world together, not
excluding Pearson and its employees. Employees held bake sales and
raffles, and donated cash to help those victims in need. With our
employee dedication and company match, we raised $665,000 for the
Tsunami relief effort. From that, Pearson was able to donate
$285,000 to the International Red Cross for food, water and other
emergency supplies. The other portion of the money went to
educational re-generation. We worked with our long-term partner Book
Aid International to distribute books and education materials to
schools and libraries in Sri Lanka. We also worked with various
non-profit organizations to provide other academic resources as
needed for the disaster-hit area.
At Home
Through Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Girl & Boy
Scouts, local church affiliations, Goodwill Industries, local food
pantries, community college scholarships, and many other charities,
Pearson GS employees volunteer hours and hours of time along with
monetary and non-monetary donations to help those in need in their
local communities. Pearson also offers a matching grant up to $100,
for employees who contribute to eligible institutions such as higher
education facilities and public radio/public television.
Listed below are some of the Pearson GS community contributions.
Arlington: Our Pearson GS Arlington group supports a number of
charitable organizations, including: March of Dimes, Jumpstart For a
Day (a local educational and community event held for preschoolers
at George Washington University), N Street Village (a local
non-profit social service that empowers chronically homeless and
low-income women by offering food, shelter, clothing and support to
re-enter the workforce), A Greater Washington/Fields of Dreams,
(reviving baseball in inner cities for youth to encourage athletics
and life skills), Pearson Education Cares/United Way (which includes
many health organizations), Vanguard Institute for Training and
Addiction Education, Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for the
Homeless, and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Race for
the Cure.
Corbin, KY: March of Dimes, Community Health Charities, United Way,
Appalachian Children's Home, American Cancer Society, Knox Literacy
Council, Newspaper in Education.
Iowa City/Coralville/Cedar Rapids: Last year in these combined areas
in Iowa, Pearson GS employees collected and distributed over $40,000
among 13 charities. That did not include non-monetary donations of
food, clothing, holiday gifts, etc. to other non-profit or charity
organizations. These included: Big Brothers-Big Sisters, United Way
(including Community Health Charities), Project Holiday (help to
those in need during holidays), Iowa City Community School District
Foundation, March of Dimes, NAACP, Thanksgiving in July (food bank),
Iowa City Library Foundation, ICAD (Iowa City area economic
development group), Priority One, University of Iowa Foundation,
United Way, Goodwill, Kirkwood Community College (scholarship money
for unemployed and underemployed), University of Iowa DeGowin Blood
Drive.
Lawrence: Lawrence has supported Habitat for Humanities, the Humane
Society, The University of Kansas, United Way, Pearson Cares,
Spencer Museum of Art (Kansas University), Lawrence Public Library,
Cottonwood Incorporated (disabilities), and some one-time events. In
addition, we support United Way, Pearson Cares, and some educational
institutions.
Phoenix: Mirage Elementary School is the Pearson "adopted" school in
Phoenix - Back to School Drive 2004, (approximately 400 employees
donated school supplies), Angel Walls Food and Toy Drive, Call for
Patriotic Decorations (approximately 300 employees donated items to
the school), Books for School - donated books and supplies to the
school through partnership with Books Are Fun book fairs. Also
supported are the
Fiesta De La Familia (Desert Sky Mall - Annual event celebrating
Spanish heritage in Phoenix), Pearson Giving Campaign, annual United
Way and Community Health charities Campaign, Pearson Education Day
of Caring (bake sale to raise funds for Beslan, Chechnya children
and families), Homeward Bound Food Drive, Phoenix Childrens Hospital
(bilingual volunteers helped at the hospital, Progressive 20 Meeting
(this is a select group of industry professionals of which Pearson
GS is a member. HR members contributed a letter outlining the
Company's hiring policies in support of a diverse workforce and were
recognized for their efforts).
At Work
In addition, each year the Pearson Community
Awards are presented to employees who exhibit outstanding voluntary
personal involvement and accomplishment. These awards recognize the
extraordinary work and commitment our employees exemplify in making
a real difference in their communities. Award recipients receive
$2,000 for the organization they support, and a $500 personal gift.
