From the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake to the AIDS crisis, Levi Strauss & Co. has a long history of stepping up for our communities during challenging times. It’s a tradition rooted in the philanthropy of our founder, Levi Strauss, that continues to drive our corporate culture today.
In this uniquely challenging year, here are five ways that LS&Co. employees brought that legacy to life and made an outsized impact:
COVID-19 relief: As the pandemic unfolded at the beginning of the year, our employees were quick to raise their hands and ask what they could do to help their communities weather the crisis. They gave to nonprofits on the frontlines of fighting the disease, and to groups that were suddenly stretched to the limit supporting vulnerable communities. They volunteered to sew masks, deliver meals and write thank you notes to first responders and cards to isolated senior citizens.
Supporting our own: Employees pitched in to make sure that their colleagues past and present had a safety net to fall back on during the crisis, making check-in calls to LS&Co.’s retiree population and donating to the Red Tab Foundation, our in-house nonprofit supporting employees facing emergencies.
Standing up for racial justice: Our employees were at the forefront of LS&Co.’s response to the growing call for racial justice this year, giving in record numbers to organizations fighting for equity and encouraging the company to make a series of commitments in June to create a more diverse and equitable company and culture.
Volunteering at the polls: When the U.S. found itself facing a shortage of poll workers for the November 3 General Election, the company joined the Power the Polls campaign to recruit new volunteers. Nearly 200 employees across the country signed up to work the polls and help ensure that everyone had an opportunity to cast their ballot safely and securely.
Giving back at the holidays: Giving back is a year-round tradition at LS&Co. – and the holiday spirit makes it all the sweeter. This year, employees put the spotlight on hunger by donating to food banks during Giving Tuesday, organized gift drives for nonprofits, contributed meals for those in need, and got together – virtually, of course – to volunteer with organizations supporting the vulnerable.
