For 20 years, Roche employees worldwide have supported Roche Children's Walk, our largest employee fundraising event. That's 20 years of raising money to support local youth and international charities through the Roche Employee Action and Charity Trust (Re&Act). This year we expect 182 sites in over 83 countries to participate.
For those sites participating in the U.S., employee donations made to the local children’s charities they support are matched by the company and used to support Re&Act global projects with UNICEF, ActionAid and other non-governmental agencies. Over the past several years, U.S. employees have raised a significant amount of money, and this year, they are set to make an impact with important youth organizations in their local communities.
Indianapolis: The contributions made by Indy employees support the Red Ribbon camp at Jameson Camp. This camp is specifically designed for children whose lives have been affected by HIV/AIDS.
Tucson and Marana, Arizona: The employees support Youth On Their Own and United Way My Summer Reading Program. These programs help students experiencing homelessness graduate high school and achieve continued success, as well as ensure the youngest learners feel confident in their reading literacy journey.
Pleasanton, California: Pleasanton employees support the Taylor Family Foundation, an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for children in Northern California who are living with life-threatening and chronic illnesses or disabilities, or who are considered at risk. The foundation achieves this goal through unique therapeutic experiences and support that enhance their overall wellness.
Santa Clara: The funds collected in Santa Clara will assist the Family Resource Center of Santa Clara Unified School District. With over one-third of their students living in food-, clothing- and housing-insecurity, this center helps provide items to help families make sure that their students' basic needs are met so they can focus on learning.
Carlsbad: In support of Vista Teen Outreach (VTO) in Carlsbad, employees will participate in a walk. VTO's main objective is to provide convenient access to on-campus food pantries stocked with food and hygiene kits for any student in need. The program assists over 1,800 school district students experiencing hunger, homelessness or both.
San Jose: The Healthier Kids Foundation is backed by San Jose workers and strives for the well-being of all youth in Silicon Valley. They collaborate with community groups, schools, preschools, daycares and parents to guarantee that good health is never an obstacle to educational equity and success.
Branchburg, New Jersey: The Branchburg employees will support the AIDS Resource Center for Children, which strives to offer all-encompassing services to families, individuals and children dealing with HIV/AIDS and other social and health-related issues.
Boston: Boston's Children's Walk aims to raise funds for Cradles to Crayons, an organization focused on improving the lives of underprivileged children through ensuring that newborns through 12th-grade students have adequate clothing for every season.
Our global Roche philanthropy Re&Act, an independent entity, pairs our Roche charitable priorities with important youth projects that support early childhood education, capacity building and youth development in low- and middle-income countries. Each year, Roche employees worldwide are selected to visit Re&Act sites. This year, two U.S. employees were randomly assigned to see current Re&Act projects in Malawi and Ethiopia.
During his time in Africa, Junaid Shabbeer, senior laboratory director, Roche Diagnostics, learned that even though he and the other ambassadors were doing their best to support projects, they still could do a lot more. Their guide advised them to refrain from giving money to individual children, as it would not solve the more significant issues at hand and might even attract more problems. Junaid saw firsthand how all contributions were effectively utilized on the ground.
When visiting Mothers2Mothers (M2M), Christoph Majewski, lifecycle leader for personalized healthcare solutions, Roche Tissue Diagnostics, was particularly impressed by the impact our donations can have. The doctor at the local hospital stated that as someone who is responsible for a population of more than 150,000, he did not have sufficient time for in-depth care. However, M2M provided the necessary resources to bridge the gap in care for them and ensure that young mothers receive the support they need and can also protect the health of their unborn or newborn children.
Majewski and Shabbeer’'s stories are a true testament to Re&Act’s purpose, helping forge a brighter future for children. Since 2003, more than one million children have benefited from educational programs across Ethiopia, Malawi, Cambodia, Nepal and the Philippines. Learn more about Re&Act.
We celebrate the efforts of our colleagues from all over the U.S. and the world in supporting Roche Children's Walk. We continue our commitment to supporting nonprofit partners that prioritize early childhood development so that high-quality education persists locally and globally.
