THROUGH TEAM ESPN, ESPN EMPLOYEES CONTRIBUTE 30,000 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE IN RECOGNITION OF ESPN’S 30TH ANNIVERSARY

In commemoration of ESPN’s 30th Anniversary, ESPN has been conducting a companywide corporate outreach initiative called the “Team ESPN 30K Challenge” from May 1 to ESPN’s 30th anniversary, September 7, 2009.  Today, Team ESPN reached and continues to surpass its goal of 30,000 hours of community service.  From department team builds to regular Team ESPN activities to personal charities, employees worldwide from ESPN’s 30 plus offices have contributed a total of 30,000 hours of volunteerism in a variety of ways.   

ESPN President George Bodenheimer commented, “Given the world economy and the challenges many people face, we felt that giving back in the communities in which we work was an appropriate way for ESPN to celebrate its 30th anniversary.  In just four months, ESPN employees exceeded our expectations by surpassing the 30,000 hours.  They continue to log in their hours of community service.”

Among the many initiatives are renovating sports fields; painting and landscaping at community facilities; serving meals at soup kitchens; delivering meals to senior citizens; running sports events such as Special Olympics; contributing food and clothing to homeless shelters; and raising money for cancer research – more than $2 million since May - through The V Foundation for Cancer Research, which ESPN founded with Jim Valvano.

Team ESPN is the brand name for ESPN’s corporate and employee outreach initiatives encompassing volunteerism, corporate giving and cause-related special events.   Initiatives are conducted year round. 

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