Employee resource groups partner to give back for the holidays

All year round, Uber invests in initiatives to create positive impact among people who earn on our platform, customers, and in the communities where we’re powering movement every day. This holiday season, members of our Employee Resource Groups—employee-led communities whose aim is to foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace—partnered with organizations in communities around the world to showcase our values and give back.

“Women at Uber in Toronto wanted to provide support to women in need within our community,” shared Samantha Brighton, an Account Manager at Uber Eats Canada and local ERG leader. To support, Samantha and Women at Uber volunteers partnered with The Shoebox Project to compile 50 boxes of personal care and hygiene products donated to women’s shelters and community agencies serving women. “The Shoebox Project made it easy to give to women locally while being a fun activity to do as a group.”

Employees from the United States and Canada came together to decorate stockings for children in foster care. Women at Uber and Able at Uber partnered with Together We Rise to sponsor 102 all-inclusive kits that bring dignity and holiday cheer to children entering foster care or moving homes this holiday season. Participating employees received kits in the mail with holiday-themed stockings and fabric markers to make the stockings personal and festive. 

For organizer and Phoenix Chair of Women at Uber Clarisa Valenzuela, this was a way to combine her personal and professional backgrounds: “Prior to working at Uber, I worked in the foster care system and worked with youth in group homes. The holiday blues can be very real for children in foster care. Imagine being alone, without your parents or siblings, without your friends or family traditions. Imagine not knowing whether you will ever spend the holidays with your family again. With this activity we are able to remind children in foster care that they matter and are loved, especially during the holidays. I am so grateful to work for Uber and be a part of these amazing ERG groups that help make this possible. We are able to provide a bit of comfort this holiday season.”

Our colorfully decorated stockings will be sent to foster youth with gift cards, so they can purchase items on their holiday wishlists.

In the spirit of giving, Veterans at Uber and Interfaith at Uber partnered across four offices in Washington DC, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Chicago to support Veterans during the holidays. 

100 employees participated in writing holiday cards to support US Veterans deployed overseas, both at the front desks of corporate offices during November (United in Service month for Veterans at Uber) and over happy hour events organized by our ERGs. Some employees brought them home to decorate with their children and educate them on the important work of service members.

“For those less aware, the holidays can be a particularly lonely time when one is serving in the armed forces,” shares Michael Pett, Head of Military and Veteran Programs, who previously served with the Illinois Army National Guard. “Often-times you are far from home, far from family, and far from those holiday traditions that one holds so sacred. With that said, this year is going to be a little brighter thanks to the amazing ERG efforts as the notes and cards will provide service-members around the globe with a little piece of home.”

“The idea of sending cards around the holidays originated from the leader of our Uber Grace chapter,” shares Leah Davidson, Co-Chair of the Interfaith at Uber. “We have many faith groups celebrating holidays, cultures, and religions this month, like Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and many others, and we really want to put the emphasis on giving back to communities.”

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