Corporate Responsibility Updates 2011
The Community
Download the Community update (2.5MB)
The Environment
Download the Environment update (2.2MB)
Encouraging Community Service Where Our
Employees and Customers Live
and Work
"Service is the rent we pay for living. It is the very purpose of life and not something you do in your spare time." -- Marian Wright Edelman
At American Express, service has been a hallmark of our company throughout its 160-year history. This service ethos comes to life every time we help a customer – whether with a simple, everyday request or in an emergency situation. We show the same care and commitment to service in our communities.
We encourage good citizenship by supporting organizations that cultivate meaningful opportunities for civic engagement by our employees and members of the community, whether as volunteers, donors, voters or patrons.
We also serve our communities by supporting immediate and long-term relief and recovery efforts to help victims of natural disasters. Funding also goes to support preparedness programs that allow relief agencies to be better equipped in responding to emergencies as they occur.
Criteria:
Supported programs encourage community service and civic participation, and deliver measurable outcomes that have a lasting impact on communities through one or more of the following:
- Building the capacity of nonprofits by assisting them in developing, engaging and retaining community members as volunteers, audience members and donors.
- Encouraging citizens to play an active role in civic processes (e.g., voting).
- Engaging community members and American Express employees in ongoing service. This may involve a variety of activities from promoting individual philanthropy, volunteerism or participation in local civic organizations.
Recent Grants
Association for Persons with Special Needs, Singapore
The Center was established in 1997 to provide a comprehensive range of
programs and services for adults with mild intellectual disability. American
Express volunteers were engaged in the development of the center and as
mentors to its clients. Support was provided to the Association’s Center for
Adults to develop an ecology facility designed to empower persons with
special needs through environmental activities.
Brighton Dome and
Festival, Brighton, UK
Brighton Dome and Festival (BDFL) is a hub of the Brighton and Hove
cultural community. The Brighton Festival brings an international mix of
entertainment events to residents and visitors to this seaside community in
the UK. Support from American Express will fund a new BDFL Access Project
for People with Disabilities that will bring together, through cultural
activities, community members who are disabled and those who are
able-bodied. This included development of enhanced artistic programming (sign language
and audio enhancements, multi-sensory experiences) for audiences with
disabilities and creation of productions that integrated able-bodied and disabled
artists and performers.
