The Road to 20M Volunteer Hours by 2020

Twenty million volunteer hours by the end of 2020 might seem like an unattainable goal, but this is exactly what UPS is committed to achieving. Since 2011, UPSers around the world have logged more than five million hours toward revitalizing communities and creating long-lasting impacts where they live and serve. Their efforts on disaster preparedness and relief, ecosystem conservation, and road safety, are among a range of initiatives that will have an estimated economic and social impact valued at $460 million for this decade of service. .

UPS has a legacy of giving back to communities. CEO, David Abney, spoke about this deeply-instilled commitment to volunteerism at the 2014 Points of Light National Conference on Volunteering and Service. "Volunteerism has always been an integral part of our company culture. UPS's founder, Jim Casey, continually advocated for employees to give back to the communities in which they live and work. Our pledge of logging 20 million hours of volunteer service by the end of 2020 reinforces our corporate giving strategy and our commitment to our volunteering and philanthropic efforts that advance and enrich communities around the world."

The driving force behind this commitment is the passion of UPSers across the globe – many of whom are participating in National Volunteer Week (April 12-18).  This year, UPS community projects include planting 100,000 trees in partnership with the National Park Foundation at the Flight 93 Memorial in Pennsylvania. And for a second year in a row, UPS will conduct a UPS Road Code workshop during the National Youth Leadership Council annual conference.

UPSers commitment to giving back has added benefits beyond hours of service. Qualified non-profit organizations can apply for a grant from The UPS Foundation once UPSers have completed 50 volunteer hours supporting them. After receiving 50 volunteer hours of support from UPSers, qualified non-profit organizations can apply for grants from the UPS Foundation.

In addition to announcing the 20M by the end of 2020 commitment last year, The UPS Foundation awarded $2.4 million to nine nonprofits focused on volunteerism. This donation included $1.2 million to the Points of Light Foundation to support disaster relief initiatives, the Veterans Leadership Corps and programs to strengthen and support the nonprofit sector.

As an organization long committed to volunteerism, UPS strives to engage employees and energize them to achieve this shared goal. This pride in serving communities began with founder Jim Casey, who believed in empowering people to ignite change and make a long-lasting, positive impact around the world.