BELLEVUE, Wash., March 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- 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.
- Seattle area
grantees: Boys & Girls Clubs of King County;
Childhaven; FareStart; Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King County;
Hopelink; and Treehouse
- Chicago area
grantees: Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago; Chicago Cares;
Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE Chicago); and Ronald
McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland & Northwest
Indiana
Community Connection Grants are awarded to nonprofits
whose efforts align with the objectives of Outerwall's diversity
and inclusion initiatives.
- Seattle area
grantees: Neighborhood House; Powerful Voices; and YWCA
Seattle | King | Snohomish
- Chicago area
grantees: Center on Halsted; Chicago Tech Academy; and
DuPage County ACT-SO program
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.
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SOURCE Outerwall Inc.