IBM gives back!

As part of IBM's Centennial celebrations, IBMers from across the globe were asked to share their skills within their communities by volunteering in IBM's Celebration of Service. The recognized Day of Service was Wednesday, June 15, 2011.


The IBM Celebration of Service is an event where employees take a day off work to lend a helping hand to the local charitable organizations. I volunteered at the Yellow Brick House women’s shelter to help organize their warehouse spaces. In a few short hours, we managed to completely revamp the warehouse with fresh paint, organized shelves, and a functional boutique clothing shop! The difference we made at the end really put a smile on everyone’s tired faces.

Volunteering has been a long time commitment for me since visiting a grassroots youth shelter for a high school project. It is an incredible feeling when you can see the impact and the gratitude from the people whose lives you have touched. Therefore, when I was looking for a 16 month internship, being able to stay involved in the local community was an important consideration for me.


Regardless of our job positions at IBM, the centennial volunteers were all connected by the single goal to do as much as we can for the families at the shelter. I was deeply moved by all the warmth, respect and dedication among the team. More importantly, this experience truly made me proud of working at IBM, where teamwork and the willingness to help others shine vividly through its corporate culture.






Rena Chiu