Austin-based Silicon Labs has always had a deep commitment to supporting our local community. In 2019, Silicon Labs team members volunteered more than 3,500 hours. And every year, Silicon Labs gives back 1% of their profits to charitable organizations.
When COVID-19 hit Central Texas, Silicon Labs stepped up in a big way with a significant donation to All Together ATX, the COVID-19 relief fund we created with our friends at Austin Community Foundation to support Central Texans through the pandemic. Hear from Silicon Labs CMO Megan Lueders, as she talks about why this donation means so much to SIlicon Labs and how together Silicon Labs and United Way ATX are “magnifying and multiplying community good.”
And our partnership didn’t stop there. That donation to All Together ATX is the first stepping stone toward more collaboration between Silicon Labs and United Way ATX. Just last week, United Way ATX hosted a virtual volunteering event for Silicon Labs team members in support of All Together ATX grantee Central Texas Food Bank.
At the event, Silicon Labs team members:
- Learned about the need in our community due to COVID-19. For more than 25 years, United Way ATX has run the 2-1-1 “call for help” line where people can get support related to food, housing, transportation, health, and more. Over the past few months, our 2-1-1 call specialists have been answering 4x our typical call volume. One of the biggest needs in our community: Food.
- Learned about how All Together ATX grantee Central Texas Food Bank is helping meet the needs in our community. Thanks in part to their funding from All Together ATX, Central Texas Food Bank is able to meet the increased need for food felt by our community during the pandemic. They are serving 220% more households during COVID-19.
- Created “Thank You” cards for Central Texas Food Bank. Silicon Labs continues to promote this virtual volunteer opportunity to their team members, and the “Thank You” cards keep coming in!
Here are a few examples of the “Thank You” cards created by Silicon Labs team members.
Having a way to give back – even as a majority of the Silicon Labs team in Austin is working from home – is important to volunteers at the company.
“I’ve really been missing the ability to volunteer in-person since we’ve been working from home, so I jumped at the chance to join this virtual volunteer opportunity organized by the United Way,” said Leigh Pankonien, Silicon Labs’ Digital Marketing Manager. “In the past, I’ve spent many hours handing out food or working in the gardens with the Central Texas Food Bank. I was so happy to construct a digital card to thank them for working on the front lines of the pandemic response, keeping our local community fed. The organizers of this session also shared some really compelling data that reminded all participants to do more and give back during this time when a lot of people are struggling.”
Silicon Labs, thank you for your commitment to making our community a better place! We’re grateful to have you as a partner in magnifying community good.