
Google Korea’s volunteering spirit runs deep
I grew up in a challenging environment, but I always felt fortunate to be surrounded by people who would always lend a helping hand when I needed it. Even at the young age of 10, their actions motivated me to extend help to people I interact with and that brought me joy. Thanks to the generosity of the people around me, I was able to complete my studies and build a career. Someone once told me that the best way to repay kindness was to pay it forward, and I made it a part of who I am today.
Since joining Google seven years ago, I’ve seen how Google has built a vibrant volunteering culture. Every year, we see Googlers around the world come together to participate in community service projects through GoogleServe — our annual volunteering event. I’ve led GoogleServe in Korea several times, encouraging Googlers to dedicate their time to volunteering. It’s incredibly motivating to hear positive comments from Googlers who have volunteered for the first time — and to see them return the following year to do more for their community.
I also became the local ambassador for Google.org, our philanthropic arm, helping Googlers understand how we can make a bigger impact by connecting our corporate grants with donations and volunteering activities. I truly believe that when we’re able to get everyone involved in doing good, we’re able to keep volunteering an integral part of our culture.