Samsung Gives: National Day of Giving to inspire employee creativity and ideas in support of children's hospitals

Day of Giving collaboration and full day of volunteer activity marks expanded partnership with SickKids, building on $230,000 donation in support of hospital's Epilepsy Classroom

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Oct. 9, 2014 /CNW/ - More than 500 Samsung Canada employees across the country will join together in celebrating Samsung's annual Day of Giving initiative, a company-wide program in support of children's hospital partners that will see employees give not only their time but - in a unique twist on volunteering - their innovative thinking.

"All Samsung employees share a passion for innovation and technology, and we'll be tapping into that creativity in unique brainstorming sessions throughout the day," said HT Kim, President and CEO, Samsung Canada. "This type of creative thinking is in our DNA, and we are excited to see what kinds of fresh thinking we can contribute to help improve the lives of those patients and families at children's hospitals."

As part of Samsung's Citizenship program, in partnership with children's hospitals in each regional office location – The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, Montreal Children's Hospital and BC Children's Hospital in Vancouver – Samsung will commit to technology, resources and funding support to try to bring at least one employee-generated innovation idea to life to benefit patients and their families.

In addition to these brainstorming sessions, Samsung employees will also be preparing a variety of support kits for patients and their families to help ease the difficulty of hospitalization.

Samsung and the SickKids Epilepsy Classroom

Nearly a year ago, Samsung Canada asked its Toronto employees which organization they would most like to benefit from the company's charitable activities and the response from employees was clear: SickKids. Beginning in early 2014, Samsung worked with SickKids to identify an opportunity to support their Epilepsy Classroom, an initiative that aligned with Samsung's Solve for Tomorrow children's education program. 

To date, Samsung Canada has donated more than $230,000 in Solve for Tomorrow grant funding and classroom technology to the SickKids Epilepsy Classroom. The Epilepsy Classroom, in partnership with the Toronto District Elementary School Board, is an initiative of the SickKids Centre for Brain and Behaviour and provides a specially designed program to meet the individual learning and social-emotional needs of children living with severe Epilepsy.

"Our students light up when they use the Samsung tablet technology in the Epilepsy Classroom, and we see the difference it makes in keeping learning fun for them," said Dr. Elizabeth Kerr, Program Head of the SickKids Epilepsy Classroom. "Thanks to Samsung's support, we'll also be able to keep a high level of resource support in the classroom. Combined with the technology, the positive impact it will have for our students is incredible." 

With these efforts, Samsung Canada hopes to make a meaningful difference in the lives of child patients, their families and their caregivers.

About Samsung Electronics Canada

Samsung Electronics Canada is a global leader in technology, opening new possibilities for young minded consumers everywhere through innovation, stylish design and premium experiences. Through relentless innovation and discovery, Samsung is transforming the worlds of TVs, smartphones, tablets, PCs, cameras, home appliances, printers, LTE systems, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. As a result, Samsung has become a true leader in the technology industry. In 2013, Samsung was ranked #8 in the Interbrand 100 Best Global Brands while the Canadian arm was named as one of Strategy Magazine's 2013 Brands of the Year and Marketing Magazine's 2012 Top 10 Marketers of the Year in Canada. Globally, Samsung employs 286,000 people across 80 countries with annual sales of US$216.7 billion.

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SOURCE Samsung Electronics Canada