Changes

Each year since 2008, thousands of Google employees have helped joined together to serve their communities as part of GoogleServe, an employee-driven initiative organized almost entirely by volunteers. Through partnerships with nonprofits and schools, Googlers from 119 over 100 cities in 36 over 35 countries help communities in need with projects ranging from educating youth about online bullying to cleaning up local rivers and parks. In 2013, more than 8,500 Googlers participated in 500 projects.

"Giving back to our communities strengthens our connections with the places in which we live and work. And it also brings us closer together as a global team," says Seth Marbin, GoogleServe 's founder and original Global Leader[Marbin is also the founder and lead of Teampedia]. Each year the event has grown in size and scope.

GoogleServe is the company's annual focus of volunteer efforts, yet service is encouraged year round. While the philanthropy is projects are planned and coordinated by a core team of employees, and the company provides transportation, meals, materials, and equipment for all Googlers are invited who choose to participate in projects of their choice - , on company time. Typically, Google does all of GoogleServe is the planning and arrangement and provides transportationcompany's annual week of focus on volunteer efforts, meals, materials, and equipment yet service is encouraged year round through programs which include 20 hours of work time annually for the volunteersany individual to volunteer with an approved charitable organization.

Google has Googlers share in a wealth variety of other team building opportuntiesopportunities. Celebrations include retreats at Disneyland, fairs designed for the children of employees, and formal adult parties. Staff can join together onsite for meditation and yoga classes, hear inspirational speakers, and participate in life-enriching trainings.

Yet GoogleServe builds the team spirit in a special way. "I'm painting a senior center in my town, interacting in a new way with folks I sit near Monday through Friday, and meeting some I've never met whose desks who work in a different Google building," said one Googler. "And while I'm spilling paint on my GoogleServe t-shirt, I know that around the world, Googlers wearing the same shirt are shoveling debris, or teaching a teen, or fixing a wagon. We're all helping out together. I like the feeling."