LS&Co. Unzipped

Welcome to our blog. Here’s where you’ll find a “behind-the-seams” look at what’s going on with Levi Strauss & Co. You’ll hear from a variety of voices, from both inside and outside the company. And you have the chance to share your thoughts. So read on — and weigh in!

Sep 11 2013

A Not-So-Small Donation

What do you think of when you hear the term “corporate donation”?

If financial gifts of tens of thousands of dollars come to mind, here’s another, simpler, but effective approach.

In Eugene, Oregon, employees here at our Levi Strauss & Co. office have long partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Emerald Valley. In fact, it’s been a partnership for more than 13 years now -- and an example of our company’s 160-year commitment to equality.

Just yesterday – the first day of school for Eugene public schools – we descended upon the club to fix up and organize the craft room. Call it a “labor of love.”

Levi Strauss Foundation provided $1,000 for new supplies, and our employee “community involvement team” added another $500 of our own money.

The money helps, but the “sweat equity” is critical.

What makes this work particularly special is that our equity is in the kids, not the building. This particular Boys & Girls Club provides a safe space for some 300 underserved kids who might not have a safe place to go after school or during the summer, when their parents are at work.

Yesterday, once the craft room was organized, the kids arrived – following their first day of school. We served them popcorn and ice cream. There was also a special visit from Sluggo, the mascot for the local minor league baseball team. (You probably spotted him in the picture above. That's me on the far left.)

There’s a lot to be said for the larger donations that corporations and their foundations make to nonprofits. Levi Strauss & Co. and Levi Strauss Foundation make their fair share. But I’d argue that grassroots work on a local level – like yesterday in Eugene – is also pretty important. Have a look:

Posted By: Kimberly Dellinger, Senior Manager, Levi Strauss & Co. Finance

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Tags: Levi Strauss & Co.,Social Responsibility,Sustainability

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