In November, Cloudera celebrated its third annual Week of Giving, one of the company’s most cherished initiatives. Each year, this event is a time for Clouderans across the globe to join in and spend time giving back to the causes they care about. From partnering with a nonprofit organization to gathering donations or volunteering their time, Clouderans rolled up their sleeves to give back to their communities.
This year, we had volunteers spanning nearly every continent and making a difference in their communities, from India and Australia to Ireland, Costa Rica, the U.S. and so many more.
Don’t just take our word for it, though. Read and learn about what some of our team members chose to do to celebrate Week of Giving.
First, let’s hear from a few of our team members in APAC.
“Team members in Cloudera’s Bangalore office spent time during Week of Giving creating notebooks, completely from scratch, usingrecycled materials, and kits to help equip underprivileged students with the necessary school supplies. I realized that doing things with love can greatly impact people’s lives.” – Philemon Johnson, Senior Software Engineer
“Cloudera’s Sydney office spent time throughout the week supporting Foodbank NSW & ACT in the fight against hunger across Australia. We volunteered labeling and packaging a variety of essential grocery items, which will be distributed through our community partners to help those in need. Given their high cost, providing these products to those in need is crucial in supporting local communities. It was a rewarding opportunity to come together, learn more about food rescue efforts, and make a tangible impact on regional communities throughout NSW & ACT. We’re proud to say we’ve all officially joined the ranks of #HungerFighters!” – Sarah Robinson, Talent Acquisition Lead APAC
Now let’s turn to what Clouderans in the Americas did to celebrate Week of Giving. 
“Volunteers from Cloudera’s Santa Clara team spent the Tuesday morning of Week of Giving helping provide groceries to over 540 local families, working with Second Harvest of Silicon Valley. Supporting SHSV is an ongoing effort for Santa Clara based Clouderans” – Amanda Allan, Manager, Cloudera Executive Briefing Program
“The Costa Rica office had the opportunity to spend a day at Fundación Génesis Costa Rica, an organization that provides vital support to children and families in need. It was a full day, packed with tasks like cleaning the facilities, decorating the social dining hall for Christmas, helping in the kitchen, and, most memorably, playing games and connecting with the kids. Stepping away from our usual routines as technologists to spend time with a community we don’t often interact with reminded us of how impactful volunteering can be. Experiences like this show us how important it is to give back and take time to make a difference.” – Natalia Aviles, Data Analyst
Next, let’s turn to our EMEA-based teams for a look at how they spent the week. 
“I had the opportunity to participate in events including writing Christmas cards for clients of Friendly Call Cork, a service that helps tackle isolation and loneliness among older people, and helping wrap Christmas boxes for the Crann Centre, which supports people living with neuro-physical disabilities. Team members from our Cork office also contributed to a food drive for local charity Penny Dinners which provides hot meals for those in need in the city. I am very grateful for the opportunities Cloudera provides to support initiatives like these during our Week of Giving especially at this time of year. It’s a great reminder of just how lucky we all are as many people find this a very difficult time of year and need our support!” – James Ahern, HR Systems Analyst
“We were thrilled with the outcome of our efforts supporting Friendly Call Cork, having produced over 150 written Christmas Cards for their clients, and even received incredibly kind praise directly from the nonprofit partner, thanking us for our efforts. It would not have been possible without the support of our Cloudera Cares Ambassadors, our fellow teammates, and the support of everyone at Cloudera”. – Laura O’Connor, HR Business Partner
“For members of Cloudera’s Budapest office, Week of Giving meant spending a day at the REX Dog Home, an animal shelter that is home to
animals of all kinds, from goats to cats and even horses. The Cloudera team spent the day helping to transform a massive heap of soil into a smooth, inviting surface for the dogs. Afterward, we spent time with the animals and helping fix and clean their enclosures as well. Big thanks to the Clouderans who brought their best animal-loving energy, and made this day such a success. Whether you came for the cuddles, the gardening… or the gyros, we hope you left with a smile. The REX animals were definitely happy to meet us!“ – Glória Benkő, Software Engineer II
In its third year, we have been so incredibly proud to see Clouderans from all over the globe embrace our Week of Giving and dive into so many heartwarming and impactful projects. Thank you to everyone who participated, and we look forward to seeing what our teams have in store for next year.
Check out the video below with highlights from this year’s Week of Giving and learn more about how Cloudera is working to support the communities that we live in.
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