On August 21, Samsung Canada employees joined forces on its annual ‘Day of Giving’ volunteer event, giving back to local communities and empowering youth through education. As part of the company’s global corporate social responsibility vision, ‘Together for Tomorrow’, Samsung Canada rallied with Start2Finish and created a day filled with food, games, prizes, and more – to lend a helping hand by assembling over 1,000  backpacks to be distributed to  children in grades four to eight across Canada.

“We are grateful for the generosity and leadership displayed by the hundreds of Samsung team members who rolled up their sleeves and dedicated their time to another successful Day of Giving,” said Jihoon Lee, President and CEO, Samsung Canada. “Samsung is proud to stand behind our commitment to education and building a better future together.”

Hundreds of Samsung employees in Canada participated in interactive activities with community members where over 1,000 backpacks were assembled and filled with school supplies – all in honour of Samsung’s continued commitment in empowering future innovators to become the next generation of leaders.

“The Start2Finish Backpack Program is unlike any other program. It is a starting point for a comprehensive, year-long approach to eradicate low academic standards among Canada’s 1 million children living in poverty,” said Brian Warren, Executive Director and Founder of Start2Finish, and two-time Grey Cup champion. “We believe every Canadian child deserves the tools to succeed, and thanks to partners like Samsung Electronics Canada, we can provide those tools and make the achievable dream possible.”

Samsung Canada would like to thank its long-term partners Tim Hortons and Pizza Pizza for providing food and beverages to support the event.

To learn more about Samsung Canada’s Corporate Citizen actions and plans, click here.

Samsung’s passion for innovation has been the driving force behind our journey. Over the decades, we’ve pioneered countless technological advancements that have transformed the way people live, work and connect. From groundbreaking developments in consumer electronics to cutting-edge solutions in semiconductor technology, we’ve consistently pushed the boundaries of what’s possible.

This commitment to innovation is deeply intertwined with our belief in co-prosperity. We recognize that true progress cannot be achieved in isolation. It requires collaboration, partnership and a shared vision for a brighter tomorrow. Our innovations are not just about creating products. In my three years as Samsung Electronics North America President and CEO, I have experienced firsthand how they’re about creating opportunities, empowering individuals and driving positive change in society.

Our citizenship work is firmly rooted in our aspiration to empower future generations to achieve their full potential. We are devoted to pioneering positive social change, demonstrating our commitment through programs and acts of service in classrooms and communities. This unwavering dedication has been a guiding light in our journey.

Our Commitment to STEM Education

One of the key pillars of our citizenship vision is our dedication to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education and empowering our future generation as leaders. As one of the largest technology companies in the world, we embrace the stewardship required to advance STEM to the forefront of education. We believe it is our duty, even our obligation, to contribute to STEM literacy and inspire more people to pursue STEM education and careers. In fact, Samsung Electronics North America has made STEM education a prominent part of our corporate agenda, actively investing in programs that educate and uplift the next generation of diverse thinkers, innovators, changemakers and activists.

In 2010, we took a meaningful role in boosting interest, proficiency and diversity in STEM with our flagship citizenship program, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow. Not only is it our most successful North American citizenship program, Solve for Tomorrow was first created in the U.S. by Samsung Electronics America and then adopted as the largest Samsung citizenship program around the world.

Emphasizing problem-based learning (PBL) and social impact entrepreneurship, this multi award-winning national competition challenges U.S. public school students to explore the role STEM can play in solving significant issues in their local communities. Personally, hosting the finals in D.C. last Spring was a highlight, as I got to interact with students and see first-hand the passion and creativity of young minds dedicated to solving real-world challenges through STEM. It excites me to know that STEM classrooms across the country look forward to and plan for the start of each competition year.

Beyond the annual competition itself, Solve for Tomorrow has branched out, becoming a community and giving rise to a series of offshoot programs that support stakeholders groups:

• Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Employee Mentors: Solve for Tomorrow engages and energizes Samsung’s North American workforce through a volunteer employee mentor program providing participating schools real-world insights from our incredible tech practitioners and through employee voting to pick a national Employee Choice award winner. The mentoring roles especially have been a great source of pride for our employees.
• Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Teacher Academy: Launched in 2019, this immersive professional development program enhances STEM teaching for educators who have participated in Samsung Solve for Tomorrow in the U.S. It equips them with skills, such as PBL, design-thinking, empathy development, environmental stewardship, and social impact entrepreneurship. Over the past five years, Teacher Academy has positively impacted more than 250 educators, who in turn inspired over 7,500 American STEM learners.
• Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Alumni Network: The Alumni Network is an online community for the curious-minded. The community consists of Solve for Tomorrow students, teachers other highly motivated hand raisers in North America that are sharing ideas on how to creatively engage students about STEM, foster critical thinking skills, and encourage collaboration through problem-based learning activities. We are proud to see these young students flourish in their academic pursuits, becoming STEM professionals, scholars, and active civic leaders in their communities.

Kicking off last year, we took our dedication to STEM to an even higher level by introducing a virtual educational program named Samsung Innovation Campus to offer Millennials and Gen Z women practical education in emerging technologies, specifically artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), enhancing their employment prospects and fostering much-needed gender diversity in tech. The 2022 and 2023 cohorts helped propel these women into promising career paths in these cutting-edge fields, making strides in addressing the industry’s pipeline problem.

Through these programs, we aim to create a future where STEM is accessible to all, regardless of background or circumstance. We believe that by doing so, we are contributing to a more equitable and prosperous society.

Our Dedication to Community Engagement & Employee Giving

But our commitment to co-prosperity extends beyond education. We also believe in making a tangible impact in the areas where we live and work. After all, we can only succeed when our communities also succeed. Through various community engagement and employee giving programs, we empower our employees to be active proponents of our mission.

Samsung Gives is our marquee employee service initiative, which is designed to provide support for and show solidarity with local communities through service. Our primary focus areas revolve around STEM education, as well as environmental sustainability. I find it to be incredibly meaningful to witness our employees coming together to support our companywide Day of Service, as well making donations and leveraging their skills to help such nonprofits as Boys & Girls Clubs of America, DonorsChoose, Junior Achievement and United Way in the U.S. and Autism Speaks Canada and SickKids in Canada accelerate their missions. And for Samsung’s part, we’ve exemplified our commitment by making significant financial and technology donations to these nonprofits, further enriching their crucial work in the community.

For example, in the U.S., Samsung has actively supported 1,300 classroom campaigns with DonorsChoose, making a substantial impact on the learning environments of students across the nation. In Canada, Samsung has donated over 5,000 tablets to families, schools and autism service providers to support their educational pursuits, through our partnership with Autism Speaks Canada. And we’ve pledged a $1 million commitment to SickKids, Canada’s foremost research-intensive hospital and the largest center dedicated to enhancing children’s health in the country.

What’s more, our Samsung Gives initiatives, such as the Day of Service, Intern Day of Service, Volunteer Time Off and Employee Match Program, really empower our employees to make a difference and support causes close to their hearts. The cumulative matching contribution by employees and our company since its inception has reached an impressive $6 million.

Of note, North America remains the only region worldwide that has successfully implemented a scaled companywide Day of Service – a tradition we’ve upheld for the past 13 years. We branch out from coast to coast to support various charities during business hours. This model sets a noteworthy example for corporate giving worldwide. In fact, I personally participated in sandwich making at Oasis, a nonprofit in Paterson, New Jersey, for children in afterschool care programs during our last Day of Service earlier this month. I learned that the sandwiches served a dual purpose. For some students, they were just an afternoon snack. For others, they were a take-home dinner or even a weekend meal.

We also work closely with our ERGs – Unidos, PRIDE, Galaxy of Black Professionals, Next Generation Leaders, Veterans Community, Women+ in Samsung Electronics – to strengthen our community outreach programs by integrating diverse community partners into our Samsung Gives employee volunteerism campaigns, such as The Resource Center, Team Rubicon and Year Up. This ERG-led inclusive volunteerism approach fosters deeper connections and a shared sense of purpose.

In closing, I believe our heritage of innovation, citizenship and community engagement is a testament to our unwavering commitment to co-prosperity. It’s a legacy that continues to drive us forward as we strive to create a brighter, more inclusive and sustainable future for all. As we look ahead to the next 55 years and beyond, Samsung remains steadfast in our dedication to empowering individuals, fostering positive change and making a meaningful difference in the world. Together, we can build a future where co-prosperity is not just a value, but a reality for all!

On October 11, Samsung Canada celebrated its annual Day of Giving as its team members across the country rallied together to support their local communities. This year, Samsung once again collaborated with Ocean Wise, a global conservation organization on a mission to protect and restore the world’s oceans, to coordinate shoreline cleanups in the areas Samsung operates nationally.

Throughout the day, hundreds of Samsung employees dedicated their time to cleaning up pollution and litter from local public spaces and waterways. Collectively, Samsung team members collected 331 kg / 730 pounds of garbage from shorelines across Canada – the equivalent of cleaning up 9.5 km of shoreline.

“We are proud to have once again worked with Ocean Wise. I want to give a special thank you to the hundreds of Samsung team members who volunteered their time to give back to our communities,” said Jihoon Lee, President and CEO, Samsung Canada. “Samsung’s Day of Giving is one of our most important Citizenship initiatives, helping the communities where we live and work strive to be more environmentally conscious.”

Globally, Samsung continues to work towards realizing its Everyday Sustainability vision, with a commitment of zero waste to landfills and reduction of e-waste by 2025.

To learn more, visit here.

On September 23, Samsung employees across Canada came together to give back to their local communities as part of the Company’s annual Day of Giving. From coast-to-coast-to-coast, employees volunteered their time to support numerous charities and local organizations doing life-changing work in the community.

From tree-planting, to shoreline and park cleanups, garden maintenance, and packaging school supplies for underprivileged children, Samsung employees gave back to their communities in many ways. In total, Samsung team members helped plant 145 trees, package 150 kits full of school supplies for in-need students, 130 care packages for hospital patients, and picked up 57 bags of garbage across various parks and shorelines across the country.

“We are grateful for the hundreds of Samsung employees in Canada that proudly volunteered their time to give back to incredible organizations doing important work for our communities,” said Jennifer Groh, Senior Director, Corporate Marketing, Samsung Electronics Canada. “This effort is a testament of our responsibility as a corporation to support and give back to the communities where we live and work and build a better tomorrow together.”

To learn more about Samsung Canada’s Corporate Citizenship actions and plans, click here.

In support of World Autism Month, Samsung Canada is donating Galaxy Watch Actives and Galaxy tablets to the Autism Research Centre at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital to help support ongoing research and programming for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The devices will be used to support children in a variety of treatment, research, and everyday settings.

Watches and tablets will be used in a study examining the effectiveness of virtual reality (V/R) technology in reducing anxiety related to visiting the dentist. Study participants will receive a Samsung tablet pre-loaded with a V/R simulation of a dental office, to determine if engaging with the video helps to lessen the anxiety felt during their visit. In another study, devices will also be used to help track the efficacy of a medication being studied for anxiety management.

In school and treatment settings, watches and tablets will be used to support children with ASD with emotion regulation. Additionally, the devices will support the delivery of virtual programming for children and their families. These include a virtual anxiety management program for children living in northern Indigenous communities, and a virtual early intervention program for toddlers with social communication challenges and their caregivers.

“Technology has tremendous potential to help support children with ASD and their families,” says Dr. Azadeh Kushki, Senior Scientist, Bloorview Research Institute. “With the device donation from Samsung, we’re able to realize some of this potential by developing and evaluating innovative technology-based supports and interventions.”

Samsung has partnered with Holland Bloorview in the past to deliver innovative technology solutions in support of ASD, including a research study conducted by the institute aimed at learning more about how children and youth with ASD use technology. Samsung has also donated wearables in support of Holland Bloorview’s Anxiety Meter project, a project centred on the use of technology to detect children’s anxiety levels, to help them better manage symptoms and improve health outcomes.

“Technology is a powerful driver of change, and for years, Samsung devices have been helping to deliver better outcomes in our communities,” said Jennifer Groh, Senior Director, Corporate Marketing and Citizenship,  Samsung Canada. “Our partnership with Holland Bloorview is an example of how far that impact goes, with our devices supporting new treatments and an enhanced quality of care for children with autism.”

Since 2015, Samsung has donated over 5,000 devices to families with autism and autism service organizations to raise awareness of the positive impact technology can make in the lives of children and youth with ASD.

To learn more about how Samsung Canada is giving back to citizens and the community, visit https://www.samsung.com/ca/aboutsamsung/sustainability/corporate-citizenship/strategy/

To celebrate Earth Day 2021 and the onset of warmer spring weather, Samsung Electronics Canada invited employees and their families to participate in the first-ever Spring Step Challenge. Using their Galaxy smartphones and wearable devices, over 100 employees across Canada tracked their daily steps throughout the challenge period of April 12 to 18.

In honor of David Suzuki’s 85th Birthday this month, every step logged was counted towards a donation to the David Suzuki Foundation, a non-profit organization that aims to conserve and protect the natural environment to help create a sustainable Canada.

Thanks to the collective efforts of Samsung Canada employees nationwide, Samsung Electronics Canada is excited to announce a donation of $10,000 to the David Suzuki Foundation.

“At Samsung, we are committed to building a better, more sustainable future,” said Jennifer Groh, Senior Director, Corporate Marketing and Citizenship, Samsung Electronics Canada. “We are proud to see this commitment reflected by our employees and the passionate response they had to the Spring Step Challenge.”

Funds raised by Samsung Canada will support the David Suzuki Foundation’s Green & Just Recovery Program, dedicated to supporting a sustainable COVID-19 recovery and align investments with environmental priorities.

“As David likes to say, in a world of more than 7 billion people, each of us may feel like a drop in the bucket. But together, we can fill any bucket.” Said Alex Portman, Development Officer, Corporate and Strategic Partnerships at the David Suzuki Foundation. “Thank you to Samsung employees for their support of the David Suzuki Foundation and their commitment to the planet this Earth Day and everyday.”

To learn more about how Samsung Canada is giving back to the environment and our local communities, visit our Sustainability page. To learn more about the David Suzuki Foundation and the Green & Just Recovery Program, visit davidsuzuki.org.

October marks Samsung Global’s Month of Giving, where employees from around the world give back to the communities that they serve. Here in Canada, all employees came together and volunteered on Friday, October 11, 2019 in support of local charities as part of the annual Samsung Day of Giving,

Employees across Canada took part in a variety of activities, including ecological restoration, tree planting, park beautification, food sorting and packing, working with children and seniors and creating care kits for local hospitals. Specific community partners involved in this year’s annual Day of Giving include:

•       Greater Toronto Area: Credit Valley Conservation, Daily Bread Food Bank, Jays Care Foundation, Ronald McDonald House Charities Toronto, SickKids Foundation and David Suzuki Foundation
•       Vancouver: Greater Vancouver Area Food Bank, Quest Food Exchange,  Metro Vancouver Regional Parks and YMCA Greater Vancouver
•       Montreal: Le Centre d’action bénévole de Valleyfield

“It’s really inspiring to see how enthusiastic and passionate our employees are about giving back. It’s an initiative that stems from our global vision that we thrive when our partners and communities thrive,” said Jeff Jo, President and CEO, Samsung Electronics Canada. “Everyone at Samsung Electronics Canada is incredibly proud and committed to building and supporting programs that make a meaningful impact.”