Social Impact & Volunteering

Outerwall Announces New Community Grants that Integrate Employee Volunteerism

Funding and Service Activities to Support Innovative Nonprofits in Seattle and Chicago Metro Areas
Mar 4, 2014 9:50 AM ET
Campaign: Championing Responsibility
Outerwall Inc. logo

Bellevue, Wash., March 4, 2014 /3BL Media/ – Outerwall Inc. (Nasdaq: OUTR), a leader in automated retail, today announced more than $250,000 in general operating grants to support Seattle and Chicago metro area nonprofit organizations that are addressing local issues with innovative solutions. In addition to providing unrestricted funding, Outerwall is collaborating with grantees to create meaningful volunteer opportunities for its company employees.

This initiative is an extension of Outerwall’s annual commitment to donate 1 percent of the previous year’s after-tax profits to charitable causes. It also aligns with the company’s goal to engage one-third of its workforce in volunteerism by 2015.

“We believe in playing an active role in the communities where our employees live and work by empowering organizations that are driving positive change,” said Nicole Trimble, Senior Director of Corporate Responsibility at Outerwall. “Our new grant commitments offer nonprofits the flexibility to determine how resources should be allocated to achieve the greatest possible outcomes while engaging our employees in rewarding volunteer opportunities that complement their skills and interests.”

Outerwall is awarding two types of grants, both of which will support nonprofit activities for a one-year period:

Better Everyday Grants are awarded to nonprofits that help individuals develop skills and access opportunities to “create a better everyday” for themselves, their families and their communities.

Community Connection Grants are awarded to nonprofits whose efforts align with the objectives of Outerwall’s diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Outerwall's corporate giving strategy is unconventional in that it integrates employee volunteerism opportunities as part of its grantee selection criteria," said Jackie Norris, Executive Director, Points of Light Corporate Institute. "This approach not only offers nonprofits skilled talent; it provides employees with valuable personal development opportunities and benefits companies by strengthening recruitment and retention.”

In addition to awarding grants directly to nonprofit organizations, Outerwall provides a matched giving program that supports employees’ favorite community causes. Outerwall employees that contribute personal time or monetary donations to nonprofits can amplify the impact of their generosity by applying for matching grants. To learn more about Outerwall’s commitment to supporting local communities, visit outerwall.com/responsibility.

 

About Outerwall Inc.  

Outerwall Inc. (Nasdaq: OUTR) has more than 20 years of experience creating some of the most profitable spaces for their retail partners. The company mission is to create a better everyday by delivering breakthrough kiosk experiences that delight consumers and generate revenue for retailers. As the company that brought consumers Redbox® entertainment, Coinstar® money services and ecoATM® electronics recycling kiosks, Outerwall is leading the next generation of automated retail and paving the way for inventive, scalable businesses. Outerwall™ kiosks are in neighborhood grocery stores, drug stores, mass merchants, malls, and other retail locations in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. Learn more at www.outerwall.com.