First Data employees in Greece make the holiday season brighter by playing “Santa” for children sheltered at homes operated by “The Smile of the Child” foundation in Athens. The foundation is a non-profit organization comprised of volunteers and employees whose goal is to promote, advocate and protect the rights of children living in Greece, regardless of their ethnic background. Hundreds of volunteers and staff carry out the programs of the organization, which include operating a children’s help line, providing shelter to children in danger, and lending support to youth with serious health problems.

Nearly 200 First Data employees and their families participate in “Hands On Atlanta” day, a citywide community service initiative that involves more than 10,000 individuals from corporations in the metro Atlanta area. Hundreds of projects are carried out to improve and enhance Atlanta and the not-for-profit organizations that meet the diverse needs of the city.

In 2010, our employee volunteers spent the morning and afternoon mulching, planting, and beautifying Grant Park for the Atlanta community. They enjoyed playing a role in preserving this community treasure and place for all residents and visitors of the city to enjoy the outdoors.

First Data employees united together to raise money for a Long Island nonprofit that supports critically ill children and their families.

First Data employees in Melville, NY hold a variety of fundraisers to benefit “Friends of Karen,” a Long Island-based charity that provides family support services for children with life threatening illnesses.  Employees rally together and demonstrate extraordinary compassion and generosity by collectively raising thousands of dollars to support their mission of providing emotional, financial, and advocacy support to critically ill children and helping their families cope through difficult times.  The employee donations and company gift match are used to assist families with medical bills, as well as other essential expenses they may have difficulty affording.

To recognize and reward our employees’ charitable commitment of time and talent, the First Data Foundation set up a Donations-for-Doers program. This program provides a $500 donation to any eligible non-profit organization where an employee volunteers at least 50 hours in a calendar year.

Featured Recipient: The House of Ruth (Maryland)

The House of Ruth, one of the nation's leading non-profit domestic violence centers, benefits from First Data’s Donations-for-Doers program and the volunteer efforts of one of our Hagerstown, Maryland employees.

“First Data’s Donations for Doers program has allowed me to increase my monetary donations to a charity I care about by providing House of Ruth with much needed financial support. First Data encourages my volunteer efforts, which makes me feel great and helps an important organization, too.”

- Thera Bennett, Application Architect, Hagerstown, Maryland, First Data

The House of Ruth Maryland works to end violence against women and their children by confronting the attitudes, behaviors and systems that perpetuate it, and by providing victims with the services necessary to rebuild their lives safely and free of fear.

Visit www.hruth.org to learn more.

Our Matching Gifts Program provides First Data the opportunity to join our employees around the world in their contributions to support community organizations in the United States, as well as Argentina, Australia, Germany, Greece, Singapore and the U.K.

Feature Recipient: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (Australia)

Since 2007, First Data employees have supported JDRF by participating in the “Ride to Cure Diabetes,” and each year the size of the team and donations grow.  In 2011, First Data team raised an impressive $70,000 USD with generous donations from First Data employees and the company’s gift matching program, as well as support from First Data’s senior leadership in the region who reached out to key suppliers, vendors, and clients and requested their support through corporate sponsorships.

JDRF is the world’s leading donor to Type 1 dia¬betes research, investing over $1.3 billion world-wide over the last four decades. Research sponsored by JDRF has significantly improved the lives of people with Type 1 diabetes and has led to the development of insulin pumps, new types of synthetic insulin and has reduced the impact of diabetes complications such as blindness, kidney disease and heart disease.

Visit www.jdrf.org.au to learn more.