Global Volunteer Days

Thousands of employees take part each year in Oracle Global Volunteer Days, a time to encourage volunteerism, celebrate Oracle employees' year-round service in their respective communities, and maximize the impact of Oracle's commitment to social responsibility. The September 16-30, 2007, event, for example, included more than 4,400 volunteers from 37 countries, supporting more than 158 projects.

Oracle Volunteers created Oracle GVD in 2000 to promote volunteerism among Oracle employees, make a lasting impact on our communities, and celebrate year-round service to organizations throughout the world. Oracle is committed to using our technology and resources to advance education in innovative ways, promote diversity, enrich the life of communities, and protect the environment. Oracle GVD, which has grown into a multi-week event, is an excellent example of this mission at work.

Oracle employees around the world worked together to enhance the communities that Oracle serves. Here are just a few worthy regional examples from GVD 2007.

• Asia Pacific—Volunteers in Chengdu, China, worked to clear debris and preserve the Du Jiang Yan Irrigation System, which was built in 256 B.C. and is one of the oldest irrigation systems in the world.
• Europe, Middle East, and Africa—Oracle Germany decided to focus all of its volunteer projects this year on local kindergarten schools and preschools. More than 120 employees worked to rebuild and refurbish school playgrounds.
• India—Oracle volunteers in India promoted community awareness about recycling, teaching people that by reducing waste, ordinary citizens can make a difference in the environment.
• Latin America—Volunteers in Chile focused on the environment by planting almost 240 trees in Metropolitan Park in Santiago. Volunteers have returned to this park for several years in an effort to help offset carbon emissions. With each tree providing oxygen supply for up to five people, their efforts helped produce an oxygen supply for 1,200 people.
• North America—Volunteers from Oracle's headquarters in Redwood Shores, California, took part in the "Bring Me a Book" project, which involved wrapping and sending quality hardbound children's books to schools, shelters, and clinics in the United States and around the world to encourage literacy. Books wrapped by Oracle GVD volunteers were sent to a school for Maasai children in Kenya, Africa.

In addition to our mission of making a measurable, positive impact in the community, our goals are to:

• Expose Oracle employees to the rewards of volunteering.
• Celebrate Oracle employees' year-round service in their respective communities.
• Offer our employees opportunities for team-building and development of leadership skills.
• Inspire continued volunteer efforts among Oracle employees.