Boston Scientific employees around the world will help make the holidays cheerier for families that otherwise may not be able to celebrate the holidays. During the holiday season, Boston Scientific employees will spend many hours volunteering time, collecting and donating warm clothing, food or toys, and sponsoring local families for the holidays. Below are a few examples of activities our employees are supporting in 2012.
Highlights of 2012 Activities
Thanksgiving in Massachusetts
In November, Boston Scientific's three Massachusetts facilities celebrate Thanksgiving early by hosting all-employee lunches. Donations are collected at the door to support two local charities. The funds collected at the Quincy and Natick facilities are donated to the Greater Boston Food Bank. The funds collected at the Marlborough facility are donated to the Mayor's Charity Relief Fund of Marlborough.
Greater Boston Food Bank
The Greater Boston Food Bank distributed almost 41 million pounds of food last year, enough to provide healthy meals to as many as 545,000 people at risk of hunger across Massachusetts. In November and December, employees of Boston Scientific's Marlborough, Natick and Quincy facilities donate funds and food items to the Greater Boston Food Bank. They are a trusted and efficient resource for local food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless and residential shelters, youth programs, senior centers, and day-care centers, providing food needed to feed the hungry.
Red Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes
Our Minnesota employees are once again participating in The Holiday Mail for Heroes program, which allows employees, families and communities around the U.S. to send holiday cards to our American service members, their families, and veterans all over the world. In 2011, Minnesota employees created more than 660 holiday cards.
Each year the American Red Cross provides assistance to more than two million service members and many of our nation's 24 million veterans. At the core of the Service to the Armed Forces mission is the commitment of the Red Cross to support military families, military and veterans hospitals and provide emergency communications across the globe.
Operation Gobble
Boston Scientific's Valencia, California employees are collecting food for the Domestic Violence Center of Santa Clarita Valley, specifically to support its women's shelter. Domestic Violence Center (DVC) of Santa Clarita Valley provides safety and support to victims of domestic violence, while working to break the cycle of abuse. The DVC seeks to increase community awareness about domestic violence issues and bring about societal change through education and public policy advocacy.
Galway Giving Tree
Boston Scientific is partnering with the Galway Giving Tree this year and is pledging more than 100 Christmas wishes. Galway Giving Tree works in conjunction with local businesses to collect Christmas gifts (or "wishes") for underprivileged children in Galway, who would otherwise go without. This year, Galway Giving Tree is working with COPE Galway Waterside House (Galway's refuge for women and children experiencing domestic violence), and Teach Corrib (COPE's day center supporting families at risk of homelessness).
Galway employees will also make a donation of hundreds of toys to COPE Galway.
Galway's Charity of the Year Holiday Activities
Several holiday activities are planned to support Galway's Charity of the Year, Ability West, including a Christmas raffle. Christmas concerts will be sung by a choir comprised of members of the Galway team to raise funds. "Wear a Festive Jumper to work Day" is a fundraiser in which Galway employees wear a festive jumper (or sweater) to work. A prize is given for the most colorful jumper.
Cradles to Crayons: Gearing Up For Winter
Founded in 2002, Cradles to Crayons is an innovative Quincy, Massachusetts-based nonprofit organization that equips homeless and in-need children with the basic essentials they need to feel safe, warm, ready to learn, and be valued. Approximately 305,000 children ages 0-12 are living in poor or low-income households in Massachusetts and may go without coats, clothing and footwear this year, if not for the work of Cradles to Crayons.
Boston Scientific's Massachusetts-based employees are donating children's new winter coats, winter boots, hats, gloves, mittens, and scarves to Cradles to Crayons.
Sponsor a Family Programs
The Massachusetts facilities of Boston Scientific will be partnering with the Department of Social Services of Framingham, Massachusetts again this year, to provide gifts to 40 area families in need. Each participating team will buy and wrap gifts that will be donated to a local family, and help make their holiday wishes come true.
During our Season of Giving, Boston Scientific facilities in Minnesota will work with the Mounds View and Osseo/Maple Grove School District personnel to sponsor local families and help make their holiday season a little brighter. Between our Minnesota sites, more than 86 families were adopted in 2011, and more than $14,000 in gift cards and truckloads full of household, clothing and gift items were collected.
