Our employees take part in a huge range of projects around the world to help good causes. Here are some great examples...
United Service Organisation Bike Drive
Every year before Christmas, BAE Systems sites across the US get together to raise money and donate bikes and helmets to the United Service Organisation (USO). The bikes are then distributed to the family members of soldiers, sailors, airmen, Coast Guardsmen and Marines.
- In 2007 the event exceeded all expectations raising enough money to buy 1,450 bikes! T
- The number of bikes donated since the initiative started in 1995 is over 8,000
- In 2007 alone the Reston, Virginia site donated 600 bikes and helmets while St Louis and San Diego handed over another 850 bikes and helmets.
Bill Ballhus, President of BAE Systems Mission Solutions said: “I take great pride in being part of a company whose employees provide such generous support to the military and their families. When I see those assembled bikes all lined up in a row at our facilities, I know we're going to make a difference in some family’s life this holiday season.”
Apprentice Innovation Challenge
BAE Systems takes great pride in being one of the largest employers of apprentices in the UK and we are always keen to give our apprentices every chance they need to develop and further their careers in the company.
Through our Apprentice Innovation Challenge, Charity Challenge provides a great opportunity for our apprentices to develop their technical skills whilst helping those in need.
In 2007, our UK charity partner, Macmillan Cancer Support set an electrical and mechanical challenge for the apprentices which addressed real problems for cancer patients.
From the start Macmillan Cancer Support were keen to look at developing the winning design and putting it into production. They were so impressed with all the apprentices’ designs, however that the top four devices may be developed for production.
Richard Trowell from that year's winning team commented, "We’ve really enjoyed putting the skills we’ve learned at BAE Systems into practice, particularly for such a worthwhile cause, and we’re also able to put this project towards our NVQ/HNC coursework so everyone’s a winner.”
Relay for Life
For the 2003/04 and 2004/05 campaign BAE Systems employees in the US chose the American Cancer Society (ACS) as it’s partner charity. One of the charities biggest events is their Relay for Life, which proved very popular with BAE Systems Australia employees.
Relay for Life is a 24 hours fun-filled event designed to bring together those who have been touched by cancer. At the event, walkers remember those that have passed away, celebrate those who have survived and raise money to help the Cancer Council in its mission to save lives and help those touched by cancer. During the 24 hours event, teams of people gather to walk or run laps, as they try to keep at least one team member on the track at all times.
- In 2008 a team of 100 employees and family members from Grainger in Tennessee participated in their local event and raised $5,500
- Our site in Rome, NY raised $14,483 during their local event and won the award for the company who raised the most money, for the second year in a row.
- Other sites in the US that regularly participate in this event also include: Kings Bay - Georgia, North Charleston - South Carolina, Austin - Texas and many many more.
