Take Time To Volunteer

Volunteer engagement has dropped off significantly due to stay at home measures resulting from COVID-19. Nonprofits across the globe are struggling to find volunteers while more people need more services than ever before.

At NortonLifeLock, we encourage our employees to apply their time and talents to the issues they care most deeply about and to contribute to the communities where they live and work.

We recently re-launched our employee volunteer program, which includes benefits to support employees as they make a difference. Volunteer Time Off provides employees with paid time off to volunteer, Dollars for Doers gives $15 to the nonprofit supported for every logged volunteer hour, and Matching Grants are available for employees wishing to financially contribute to a cause.

While the pandemic has disrupted our traditional in-person volunteer program, our NortonLifeLock Volunteer Leaders have identified creative ways to engage employees in virtual volunteering. Below, three of these Leaders, Kelly Ryan, Trisha Hailston, and Amanda Davis, highlight the work they are able to safely do in their own communities as well as virtual events they’ve organized for their offices.

Meet Tempe, AZ Volunteer Leader Kelly Ryan:

Kelly, a Global Support Partner Manager, was stationed in rural Paraguay for her two years in the Peace Corps. She is passionate about giving back and currently volunteers with Project C.U.R.E, which delivers medical supplies and equipment to severely resource-limited communities to make diagnosis and treatment possible.

When Kelly isn’t sorting medical supplies at Project C.U.R.E., you can find her helping out in the Food Bank at AZCEND, whose mission is to change lives by nourishing minds and bodies to create a connected, thriving community.

Kelly recently supported the Valley of the Sun United Way by hosting a virtual volunteer event where employees made encouraging cards for kids going back to school. “I volunteer as a way to give back and share with my community, knowing that I have the time and ability to help in a small way. NortonLifeLock’s Dollars for Doers grants defray the costs to ship medical supplies to hospitals in need in a developing country or help purchase more food for distribution to those in need in my community,” she said.

Meet Culver City, CA Volunteer Leader Trisha Hailston:

Trisha works as a Senior Executive Assistant and is an extremely active volunteer. She’s logged roughly 100 volunteer hours since 2011, supporting the American Red Cross, Heal the Bay, Power My Learning, Culver City Education Foundation, American Association of University Women AAUW, and others.

She donates blood quarterly, gives online safety presentations, cleans up beaches, sets up events, and recruits other volunteers. This month she partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica and had NortonLifeLock employees deliver online safety training to forty 12-18 year old students.

While it’s hard to pick a favorite cause, Trisha says, “I am passionate about donating blood. Many of my family members have needed this life saving gift. The need for blood is so great and it is something that cannot be purchased.” Since each unit of blood can save up to 3 lives, her efforts organizing blood drives in Culver City have had the potential to save up to 2,589 lives.

Meet Dublin, Ireland Volunteer Leader Amanda Davis:

Amanda is on the Corporate Responsibility team and is passionate about human rights, environmental compliance, and green initiatives. She has worked with OWLS Children’s Nature Charity for over six years, building benches, clearing paths, running a Kids Camp with her NortonLifeLock colleagues, and now sitting on the Board.

OWLS encourages primary school children and their families to enjoy nature. Their activities are aimed at having FUN outside and they offer school visits, after school clubs, public events in parks around Dublin, and camps. “I love the mission of OWLS, it's really important for children to be outside, to learn about nature, appreciate it and look after it. It’s surprising the number of children who don’t get that opportunity,” she said.

Amanda also volunteers with her son’s Parent Teacher Association, Scoil Bhride PTA, and is currently planning a virtual volunteer event with Empower, where Dublin employees can use their expertise to provide online safety education.

Trisha encourages friends, employees, and interested strangers (like you!) to get involved and volunteer. “While it can be a challenge to first get folks involved, once I do, I see the shift. They too become passionate volunteers and are happy to come back repeatedly and use their talents and time.” To find a volunteer opportunity near you, visit http://volunteermatch.org/.